Stellar dynamics and tidal disruption events in galactic nuclei
Abstract
The disruption of a star by the tidal field of a massive black hole is the final outcome of a chain of complex dynamical processes in the host galaxy. I introduce the "loss cone problem", and describe the many theoretical and numerical challenges on the path of solving it. I review various dynamical channels by which stars can be supplied to a massive black hole, and the relevant dynamical relaxation / randomization mechanisms. I briefly mention some "exotic" tidal disruption scenarios, and conclude by discussing some new dynamical results that are changing our understanding of dynamics near a massive black hole, and may well be relevant for tidal disruption dynamics.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1210.0582,
title = {Stellar dynamics and tidal disruption events in galactic nuclei},
author = {Tal Alexander},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1210.0582},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Invited review talk presented in the "Tidal Disruption events and AGN outbursts" workshop, 25-27 June 2012, ESAC, Madrid, Spain. To appear in the EPJ web of conferences, Editor: R. Saxton. 7 pp