2006/06/30 by J. I. Read, Justin I. Read, Tobias Goerdt +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #Chandrasekhar limit #Constant (computer programming) #Dynamical friction #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Globular cluster #Physics #Satellite #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Stellar density #Supermassive black hole #White dwarf #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.11022.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.373:1451-1460,2006 · 11 pages, 7 figures. Final version accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2006/10/04 · openalex publication_date 2006/11/17 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Using analytic calculations and N-body simulations we show that in constant density (harmonic) cores, sinking satellites undergo an initial phase of very rapid (super-Chandrasekhar) dynamical friction, after which they experience no dynamical friction at all. For density profiles with a central power law profile, ρ∝r−α, the infalling satellite heats the background and causes α to decrease. For α < 0.5 initially, the satellite generates a small central constant density core and stalls as in the α= 0 case. We discuss some astrophysical applications of our results to decaying satellite orbits, galactic bars and mergers of supermassive black hole binaries. In a companion paper we show that a central constant density core can provide a natural solution to the timing problem for Fornax's globular clusters