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SUMMARY:Dynamical Evolution of Binaries in Star Clusters and Galaxies - Dr
  Chris Hamilton - IAS Princeton
DTSTART:20220124T140000Z
DTEND:20220124T150000Z
UID:TALK165937@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Callum William Fairbairn
DESCRIPTION:The orbital evolution of binary systems perturbed by external 
 tidal forces represents one of the oldest problems in celestial mechanics.
    Interest in this class of problems has resurged recently due to the dis
 covery of various exotic astrophysical phenomena\, particularly the LIGO/V
 irgo mergers of compact object binaries.  On the theoretical side\, the mo
 st notorious advance of recent decades has been the Lidov-Kozai theory\, i
 n which a binary is excited to high eccentricity by a bound tertiary pertu
 rber.  However\, there exist many more avenues for perturbing binaries.  F
 or instance\, tidal forces can arise from the smooth\, global gravitationa
 l field of the galaxy or star cluster in which the binary resides\; from s
 tochastic kicks by passing stars\; or from dark matter substructure\, gian
 t molecular clouds and various other bits of galactic detritus. In this ta
 lk I will show how one can formulate a general theory of tidally perturbed
  binaries.  I will then explain the quantitative consequences of the theor
 y in the case where the dominant tidal force on the binary comes from the 
 global potential of its host cluster or galaxy. I will apply the theory to
  the problems of (i) merging compact object binaries in stellar clusters a
 nd (ii) wide binaries in the galactic disk. \n
LOCATION:Online
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