The evolution of binaries in dense star clusters

Simon Portegies Zwart

It has been claimed for years that a rich binary population in a young
star cluster has a profound effect on the dynamical evolution of that
cluster.  Assisted with large scale dynamical simulation of the
evolution of star clusters younger than 100Myr, I demonstrate that the
cluster is disturbed only minimally by its binaries.  Core collapse,
which occurs in the young star cluster, cannot be prevented by the
primordial binaries. And vice versa, only a small minority of the
primordial binaries are affected by the dynamical evolution of the
star cluster.