| Resonant Friction on discs in galactic nuclei |
| Yuri Levin, Columbia University |
| Event Type: Astro Seminar |
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| Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
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| Location: 726 Broadway, 940, CCPP Seminar |
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| Abstract: Statistical physics has a bad track record in describing large-N gravitational systems. It has become clear over the last several years that there is a remarkable exception to this rule. Resonant relaxation due to orbit-averaged secular dynamics in galactic nuclei drives them to states of thermal and rotational equilibria on an astronomically short timescale. There are fun applications: phase transitions leading to lopsided precessing equilibria (similar-looking to the nucleus of Andromeda), and strong clustering in eccentricity and inclination of stellar-mass black holes. Following Rauch and Tremaine, I will use statistical physics to argue that secular-dynamical "resonant friction" must exist and that moreover, it likely
plays a huge role in galactic nuclei. It controls the dynamics of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes as well as that of stellar and accretion discs. The young stellar disc at the center of our Galaxy presents a good case study for this effect. Link to the Event Video |