N-body simulation of a clumpy torus: application to active galactic nuclei

TL;DR

This paper uses N-body simulations to study the gravitational properties and structure of a clumpy torus around active galactic nuclei, revealing its equilibrium shape and obscuring characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel N-body simulation approach to model the self-gravity and structure of a clumpy torus in active galactic nuclei.

Findings

Torus formed from orbiting test particles with varied inclinations and eccentricities.

Equilibrium torus cross-section is oval with Gaussian density distribution.

Obscuring efficiency depends on torus inclination.

Abstract

The gravitational properties of a torus are investigated. It is shown that a torus can be formed from test particles orbiting in the gravitational field of a central mass. In this case, a toroidal distribution is achieved because of the significant spread of inclinations and eccentricities of the orbits. To investigate the self-gravity of the torus we consider the $N$-body problem for a torus located in the gravitational field of a central mass. It is shown that in the equilibrium state the cross-section of the torus is oval with a Gaussian density distribution. The dependence of the obscuring efficiency on torus inclination is found.