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Core collapse can either be a redistribution of the kinetic energy of stars in which the more massive stars are closer to the centre of mass, or as the result of the presence of intermediate mass black holes (IMBH).
There is evidence of IMBH in certain globular clusters.
IMBM are much more massive than the gravitational collapse of single stars and are therefore most likely formed by collisions between stars in the core.
Once an IMBH is formed, neighbouring stars in the core can provide an accretion source for the black hole.
If core collapse results in a segregation of mass, a process known as evaporation occurs where the lighter mass stars have sufficent kinetic energy to escape the cluster. This is an on going process which results in globulars and open clusters having finite life spans.
Steven
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