On the evolution of globular cluster cores: matters of life and death

The evolution of a population of globular clusters is considered on two models for the collapse of their cores by evaporation. On the first model, cores collapse only once and, on the second model, cores collapse repeatedly in a cyclical fashion. These models are applied to the available data and the initial distributions of core masses, radii and relaxation time-scales are predicted. The initial distributions have several interesting features which may provide clues about the formation of globular clusters. These include an initial power-law distribution of relaxation time-scales and initial distributions of masses and radii which are similar to the present ones. (author)