What process causes stars in the outer regions of a cluster to be pulled away by the galaxy's gravity?

Answer

Tidal stripping

The long-term evolution of a globular cluster involves interaction with its massive host galaxy, which subjects the cluster to external gravitational forces, specifically the galactic tidal field. When considering stars in the cluster's outer regions, the gravitational influence of the host galaxy can overcome the internal binding forces of the cluster itself. This mechanism, known as tidal stripping, results in the gradual pulling away of individual stars or streams of stars from the cluster's main body. The escaping stars often leave behind visible trails called 'tidal tails,' illustrating the slow process by which the cluster structure gradually erodes over cosmic timescales, even as the dense core remains gravitationally intact.

What process causes stars in the outer regions of a cluster to be pulled away by the galaxy's gravity?

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