Date:
Tue, 18/04/202312:30-13:30
Speaker: Prof. Yuri Levin (Columbia University and the Flatiron Institute)
Title: Resonant Friction on discs in galactic nuclei
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.
Contact: Nick
Title: Resonant Friction on discs in galactic nuclei
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.
Contact: Nick