The Influence of Black Hole Binarity on Tidal Disruption Events

Eric R. Coughlin, Philip J. Armitage, Giuseppe Lodato, C. J. Nixon

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mergers are fundamental to the standard paradigm of galaxy evolution, and provide a natural formation mechanism for supermassive black hole binaries. The formation process of such a binary can have a direct impact on the rate at which stars are tidally disrupted by one or the other black hole, and the luminous signature of the tidal disruption itself can have distinct imprints of a binary companion. In this article we review our current understanding of the influence of black hole binarity on the properties of tidal disruption events. We discuss the rates of tidal disruption by supermassive black hole binaries, the impact of a second black hole on the fallback of debris and the formation of an accretion flow, and the prospects for detection of tidal disruption events by supermassive black hole binaries.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number45
JournalSpace Science Reviews
Volume215
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Binaries: general
  • Black hole physics
  • Galaxies: nuclei
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Methods: numerical

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Influence of Black Hole Binarity on Tidal Disruption Events'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this