Tal Alexander
Published 2012-10-01, updated 2012-10-20Version 2
The disruption of a star by the tidal field of a massive black hole is the final outcome of a chain of complex dynamical processes in the host galaxy. I introduce the "loss cone problem", and describe the many theoretical and numerical challenges on the path of solving it. I review various dynamical channels by which stars can be supplied to a massive black hole, and the relevant dynamical relaxation / randomization mechanisms. I briefly mention some "exotic" tidal disruption scenarios, and conclude by discussing some new dynamical results that are changing our understanding of dynamics near a massive black hole, and may well be relevant for tidal disruption dynamics.
Comments: Invited review talk presented in the "Tidal Disruption events and AGN outbursts" workshop, 25-27 June 2012, ESAC, Madrid, Spain. To appear in the EPJ web of conferences, Editor: R. Saxton. 7 pp
The History of Tidal Disruption Events in Galactic Nuclei
Ultra-Close Encounters of Stars With Massive Black Holes: Tidal Disruption Events With Prompt Hyperaccretion
Stellar Dynamics around a Massive Black Hole II: Resonant Relaxation
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