English

Analytic Modelling of Binary-Single Encounters: Non-Thermal Eccentricity Distribution and Gravitational-Wave Source Formation

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2022-11-30 v2 Astrophysics of Galaxies Solar and Stellar Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

Chaotic three-body interactions may lead to the formation of gravitational-wave sources. Here, by modelling the encounter as a series of close, non-hierarchical, triple approaches, interspersed with hierarchical phases, in which the system consists of an inner binary and a star that orbits it, we compute the pericentre probability distribution, and thereby the in-spiral probability in any given binary-single encounter. We then consider the indirect influence of binary-single encounters on the population of gravitational-wave sources, by changing the eccentricity distribution of hard binaries in clusters; we calculate this distribution analytically, by requiring that it be invariant under interactions with single stars.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2205.15957,
  title  = {Analytic Modelling of Binary-Single Encounters: Non-Thermal Eccentricity Distribution and Gravitational-Wave Source Formation},
  author = {Yonadav Barry Ginat and Hagai Perets},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.15957},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

Updated to agree with MNRAS version

R2 v1 2026-06-24T11:34:50.594Z