Merger as Intermittent Accretion

TL;DR

This paper modifies the Self-Similar Secondary Infall Model to simulate mergers as intermittent accretion events, demonstrating robustness and invertibility, and aligning with the merger paradigm.

Contribution

It introduces a spherical model incorporating tidal stripping and dynamical friction to treat mergers as smooth or intermittent accretion processes.

Findings

Model agrees with Syer & White merger behavior

Robustness in absorbing large perturbations

Supports view of mergers as intermittent accretion

Abstract

The Self-Similar Secondary Infall Model (SSIM) is modified to simulate a merger event. The model encompass spherical versions of tidal stripping and dynamical friction that agrees with the Syer & White merger paradigm's behaviour. The SSIM shows robustness in absorbing even comparable mass perturbations and returning to its original state. It suggests the approach to be invertible and allows to consider accretion as smooth mass inflow merging and mergers as intermittent mass inflow accretion.