General Introduction
"Astronomisches Rechen-Institut" (in short ARI) is a place in
astronomy where history and forefront science in the fields of
stellar dynamics and astrometry meet each other. Its origin
goes back to the Royal Prussian Calendar Patent
(historic background)
issued on May 10, 1700, in Berlin.
The year 2000 is also a good timing to hold again a scientific
conference on new theoretical results on the structure and dynamics
of the solar neighbourhood, the Galaxy as a whole, the centre
of the Milky Way, and its open and globular star clusters.
Since the last large conference on star cluster dynamics, the IAU
Symposium 174, high resolution observations
with new generation telescopes have provided us with a wealth
of data and new constraints for kinematical and dynamical
modelling. The study of the structure, kinematics and dynamics of the
solar neighbourhood stars has much in common with the
star cluster methods, from the use of Jeans equations
to the importance of two body scattering for structure
and equilibrium. The same holds for the Galactic Centre,
where a spectacular massive black hole dominates the
dynamics and which can be seen as a prototype and the
nearest active galactic nucleus to study.
In the field of collisionless galactic dynamics,
one of the recent conference highlights is the
Rutgers conference in New Jersey, which will by the year 2000, already
be two years ago. This is a long time span considering the
number of researchers in the field and the quick development
e.g. of observations of galactic nuclei, disks and bulges.
Stability
and evolution of the collisionless components of
the Galaxy, such as the bulge, thick and thin disc,
and the dark halo with the satellite galaxies, require
in most cases large numerical N-body studies.
This is also the case for collisional constituents, such as
the nucleus of the Milky Way and open or globular clusters,
using, however, different physical and numerical features.
Nevertheless there has always been
a considerable personal and methodological overlap
between the two regimes, and it is considered as very
useful to bring the two stellar dynamical communities
together. It also reflects the subjects of the groups
working at ARI in particular and Heidelberg in general.
Astrometry, i.e. the acquisition of precise data of stellar
positions and motions and their proper statistical and
astronomical processing is a fundamental ingredient for
for many astrophysical studies, in particular stellar dynamics.
The use of such data from the HIPPARCOS satellite and
their scientific use for the derivation of velocity distribution
functions, mass and luminosity functions and stellar binarity
properties in star clusters is another of the major research
fields at ARI. A successor satellite mission to HIPPARCOS
called DIVA is planned here.
ARI today hosts groups working on the structure and dynamics
of the local galaxy, the solar neighbourhood, spiral structure,
on dynamics of star clusters and galactic nuclei, including the
use of special purpose GRAPE and general purpose massively
parallel computers for direct N-body simulations.
To conclude, ARI and its 300 year anniversary are the appropriate
and inspiring location
to bring together stellar dynamicists working on different
objects but with many common grounds, to foster exchange and
dissemination of expertise and bring about a momentum to
keep theory and stellar dynamics competitive with the enormous
increase of observational data, in a timely and well-focused
conference.
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