A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks
Disks of gas accreting onto supermassive black holes may host numerous stellar-mass objects, formed within the disk or captured from a nuclear star cluster. We present a simplified model of stellar evolution in these dense environments, which exhibits exceptional agreement with full stellar evolutio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9e92 |
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| author | Alexander J. Dittmann Matteo Cantiello |
| author_facet | Alexander J. Dittmann Matteo Cantiello |
| author_sort | Alexander J. Dittmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Disks of gas accreting onto supermassive black holes may host numerous stellar-mass objects, formed within the disk or captured from a nuclear star cluster. We present a simplified model of stellar evolution in these dense environments, which exhibits exceptional agreement with full stellar evolution calculations at a minuscule fraction of the cost. Although the model presented here is limited to stars burning hydrogen in their cores, it is sufficient to determine the evolutionary fate of disk-embedded stars: whether they proceed to later stages of nuclear burning and leave behind a compact remnant, reach a quasi-steady state where mass loss and accretion balance one another, or whether accretion proceeds faster than stellar structure can adjust, causing a runaway. We highlight how various disk parameters and phenomena such as gap opening affect stellar evolution outcomes. We also highlight how our model can accommodate time-varying conditions, such as those experienced by a star on an eccentric orbit, and can couple to N -body integrations. This model will enable more detailed studies of stellar populations and their interaction with accretion disks than have previously been possible. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f14848456e34625b690b55ce29d0fb1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f14848456e34625b690b55ce29d0fb12025-01-29T09:18:02ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01979224510.3847/1538-4357/ad9e92A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN DisksAlexander J. Dittmann0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6157-6722Matteo Cantiello1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8171-8596Department of Astronomy and Joint Space-Science Institute, University of Maryland , College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA ; dittmann@ias.edu; Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, NM 87545, USACenter for Computational Astrophysics, Flatiron Institute , 162 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA; Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University , Princeton, NJ 08544, USADisks of gas accreting onto supermassive black holes may host numerous stellar-mass objects, formed within the disk or captured from a nuclear star cluster. We present a simplified model of stellar evolution in these dense environments, which exhibits exceptional agreement with full stellar evolution calculations at a minuscule fraction of the cost. Although the model presented here is limited to stars burning hydrogen in their cores, it is sufficient to determine the evolutionary fate of disk-embedded stars: whether they proceed to later stages of nuclear burning and leave behind a compact remnant, reach a quasi-steady state where mass loss and accretion balance one another, or whether accretion proceeds faster than stellar structure can adjust, causing a runaway. We highlight how various disk parameters and phenomena such as gap opening affect stellar evolution outcomes. We also highlight how our model can accommodate time-varying conditions, such as those experienced by a star on an eccentric orbit, and can couple to N -body integrations. This model will enable more detailed studies of stellar populations and their interaction with accretion disks than have previously been possible.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9e92Stellar physicsStellar evolutionary modelsGalactic centerMassive starsQuasars |
| spellingShingle | Alexander J. Dittmann Matteo Cantiello A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks The Astrophysical Journal Stellar physics Stellar evolutionary models Galactic center Massive stars Quasars |
| title | A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks |
| title_full | A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks |
| title_fullStr | A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks |
| title_short | A Semi-analytical Model for Stellar Evolution in AGN Disks |
| title_sort | semi analytical model for stellar evolution in agn disks |
| topic | Stellar physics Stellar evolutionary models Galactic center Massive stars Quasars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9e92 |
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