Computer Simulations of Encounters Between Massive Black Holes and Binaries
Abstract
Over 800,000 encounters of binaries with black holes having masses that range from 10 to 10,000 times that of the binary components were simulated. The calculations at many collision velocities and impact parameters were made, which made it possible to find the velocity-dependent cross sections for exchange collisions, for binary dissociation, and for changing the orbital energy and eccentricity. The distribution of closest approaches of the stars to the black hole was also found. The probability of the black hole tidally disrupting a star in the close encounters that produce exchange collisions was determined. Exchange collisions dominate over tidal dissociation if the sum of the radii of the stars is less than the binary semimajor axis. Even encounters of black holes with soft binaries can lead to exchange collisions in which the black hole captures one binary component and ejects the other at high speed.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1086/115905
- Bibcode:
- 1991AJ....102..704H
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Black Holes (Astronomy);
- Collision Parameters;
- Computerized Simulation;
- Massive Stars;
- Equations Of Motion;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Astrophysics;
- BLACK HOLES;
- STARS: BINARIES