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arXiv · 2110.10163

On the Formation of an Eccentric Nuclear Disk following the Gravitational Recoil Kick of a Supermassive Black Hole

Tatsuya Akiba·Ann-Marie Madigan
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Abstract

The anisotropic emission of gravitational waves during the merger of two supermassive black holes can result in a recoil kick of the merged remnant. We show here that eccentric nuclear disks - stellar disks of eccentric, apse-aligned orbits - can directly form as a result. An initially circular disk of stars will align orthogonal to the black hole kick direction with a distinctive 'tick-mark' eccentricity distribution and a spiral pattern in mean anomaly.

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Tatsuya Akiba, Ann-Marie Madigan. 2021-10-19. On the Formation of an Eccentric Nuclear Disk following the Gravitational Recoil Kick of a Supermassive Black Hole. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213%2Fac30d9

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