The galactic center HeI stars: Remains of a dissolved young cluster?

A massive young star cluster, initially embedded in its parent molecular cl oud, will spiral into the Galactic center from less than or similar to 30m( 6)(1/2) during the lifetime of its most massive stars, if the combined tota l mass is similar to 10(6)m(6) M.. On its way inward, the system loses most of its mass to the strong tidal field, until the dense cluster core of hig h-mass stars is finally disrupted near the central black hole. A simple mod el is presented to argue that this scenario may, under plausible conditions , explain the observed location and rotation of the Galactic center He I st ars. Accretion of star clusters into the Galactic center could be recurrent and could play an important role in regulating the activity of Sagittarius A*.