Abstract
Abstract
We present a new analytical solution to the steady-state distribution of stars close to a central supermassive black hole of mass M
• in the center of a galaxy. Assuming a continuous mass function of the form
dN
/
dm
∝
m
γ
, stars with a specific orbital energy x = GM
•/r − v
2/2 are scattered primarily by stars of mass m
d(x) ∝ x
−5/(4γ+10) that dominate the scattering of both lighter and heavier species at that energy. Stars of mass m
d(x) are exponentially rare at energies lower than x, and follow a density profile
n
(
x
′
)
∝
x
′
3
/
2
at energies
x
′
>
x
. Our solution predicts a negligible flow of stars through energy space for all mass species, similarly to the conclusions of Bahcall & Wolf, but in contrast to the assumptions of Alexander & Hopman. This is the first analytic solution that smoothly transitions between regimes where different stellar masses dominate the scattering.
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cited by
8 articles.
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