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The distribution of stars around a massive black hole

Nature volume 262, pages 743–745 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

The stellar density distribution around a massive black hole at the centre of a spherical star cluster is determined from a simple scaling argument. The distribution is obtained by examining the net diffusion timescales associated with star and energy transport in a spherical, N-body system in dynamic equilibrium. The same analysis is also used to determine the stellar density profile in the halo of a star cluster. The approximate distribution obtained here for a relaxed, N-body system with (or without) a central, massive black hole agrees qualitatively with the results of detailed numerical calculations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853

    Stuart L. Shapiro & Alan P. Lightman

Authors
  1. Stuart L. Shapiro
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  2. Alan P. Lightman
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Shapiro, S., Lightman, A. The distribution of stars around a massive black hole. Nature 262, 743–745 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262743a0

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