DOUBLE TIDAL DISRUPTIONS IN GALACTIC NUCLEI

Journal Article · Wed May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/805/1/L4· OSTI ID:22518974

Mandel, Ilya ^[1]; Levin, Yuri ^[2]

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1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT (United Kingdom)
2. Monash Center for Astrophysics and School of Physics, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 (Australia)

A star on a nearly radial trajectory approaching a massive black hole (MBH) gets tidally disrupted if it comes sufficiently close to the MBH. Here we explore what happens to binary stars whose centers of mass approach the MBH on nearly radial orbits. The interaction with the MBH often leads to both stars being disrupted in sequence. We argue that such events could produce light curves that are substantially different from those of the single disruptions, with possible features such as two local maxima. Tidal forces from the MBH can also lead the binary components to collide; these merger products can form highly magnetized stars, whose subsequent tidal disruption may enable prompt jet formation.

• OSTI ID: 22518974
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 805, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BINARY STARS
BLACK HOLES
DIAGRAMS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
JETS
MAGNETIC STARS
MASS
ORBITS
TRAJECTORIES
VISIBLE RADIATION