On the Formation of an Eccentric Nuclear Disk following the Gravitational Recoil Kick of a Supermassive Black Hole

Abstract

The anisotropic emission of gravitational waves during the merger of two supermassive black holes can result in a recoil kick of the merged remnant. We show here that eccentric nuclear disks - stellar disks of eccentric, apse-aligned orbits - can directly form as a result. An initially circular disk of stars will align orthogonal to the black hole kick direction with a distinctive 'tick-mark' eccentricity distribution and a spiral pattern in mean anomaly.

8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters