A secondary orbiter under collisions with an accretion disk

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex dynamics of stellar orbits in dense systems with a supermassive black hole, focusing on the interactions between stars, collisions, and accretion disks, and their effects on system evolution.

Contribution

It provides an outline of the mutual influences of gravitational, physical, and hydrodynamical interactions in dense stellar environments with accretion disks.

Findings

Star-star collisions affect stellar distribution.

Hydrodynamical interactions influence black hole feeding.

Self-gravity of accretion medium modulates system evolution.

Abstract

Dynamics of stellar orbits in dense stellar systems and nuclear star clusters (NSC) with an embedded supermassive black hole (SMBH) is governed a complex interplay of different forces. In particular, star--star gravitational collisions (relaxation), physical collisions between stars, and the hydrodynamical interaction with any surrounding gaseous environment, such as an accretion disk. These processes influence the stellar distribution, the feeding of the central black hole, and the generation of observable phenomena. Furthermore, the self-gravity of the accretion medium modulates the long-term evolution, adding significant complexity to the system's dynamics. By employing elementary arguments we outline the mentioned influences in their mutual competition.