Effect of angular momentum distribution on gravitational loss-cone instability in stellar clusters around a massive black hole |
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Authors: | E V Polyachenko V L Polyachenko I G Shukhman |
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Institution: | Institute of Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, 48 Pyatnitskya St, Moscow 119017, Russia;Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, PO Box 291, Irkutsk 664033, Russia |
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Abstract: | We study the small perturbations in spherical and thin disc stellar clusters surrounding a massive black hole. Because of the black hole, stars with sufficiently low angular momentum escape from the system through the loss cone. We show that the stability properties of spherical clusters crucially depend on whether the distribution of stars is monotonic or non-monotonic in angular momentum. It turns out that only non-monotonic distributions can be unstable. At the same time, instability in disc clusters is possible for both types of distribution. |
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Keywords: | Galaxy: centre galaxies: kinematics and dynamics |
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