Eclipsing Stellar Binaries in the Galactic Center

Abstract

Compact stellar binaries are expected to survive in the dense environment of the Galactic Center. The stable binaries may undergo Kozai-Lidov oscillations due to perturbations from the central supermassive black hole (Sgr A*), yet the General Relativistic precession can suppress the Kozai-Lidov oscillations and keep the stellar binaries from merging. However, it is challenging to resolve the binary sources and distinguish them from single stars. The close separation of the stable binaries allow higher eclipse probabilities. Here, we consider the massive star SO2 as an example and calculate the probability of detecting eclipses, assuming it is a binary. We find that the eclipse probability is ~ 30-50%, reaching higher values when the stellar binary is more eccentric or highly inclined relative to its orbit around Sgr A*.

6 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (17)

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Cited by in corpus (8)

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• Magnetic Flux Cancelation as the Buildup and Trigger Mechanism for CME-Producing Eruptions in two Small Active Regions
• Confusing binaries: the role of stellar binaries in biasing disk properties in the Galactic Center
• On Socially Distant Neighbors: Using Binaries to Constrain the Density of Objects in the Galactic Center
• Massive binary star mergers in galactic nuclei: implications for blue stragglers, binary S-stars and gravitational waves
• An Adaptive Optics Survey of Stellar Variability at the Galactic Center
• Tidal breakup of quadruple stars in the Galactic Centre
• Supernovae in massive binaries and compact object mergers near supermassive black holes