Massive gaseous discs around SMBH binaries: Binary decay and tidal disruptions

• Main Authors: Brem P., Amaro-Seoane P., Cuadra J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2012-12-01
• Series: EPJ Web of Conferences
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20123905003

We investigate the evolution of black hole binaries embedded within geometrically thin gas discs. Our results imply that such discs can produce black hole mergers for relatively low-mass binaries, and that a significant population of eccentric binaries might exist at separations of a few 0.01 pc. These binaries may be detectable due to the time-variable accretion on to the black holes. If the disc fragments, then the newly-born stars will continue driving the binary to its coalescence, although at a slower rate. Interestingly, our preliminary analysis shows that these stars will be disrupted at a rate of ∼10−4–2 · 10−5 events per year per system.