Date of Award
5-14-2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Thesis
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Brian W. Murphy
Abstract
Recent observational data suggest the depletion of late-type giant stars in the inner most region of the Galactive Nucleus. Using dynamically evolving Fokker-Planck models of the Galactic Nucleus, we have followed in detail the stellar distribution as it evolves through the postmain-sequence phases. Of particular interest was the effect of stellar collisions and tidal disruptions by the central massive black hole on post main sequence stars as they expand in size. B y modeling tidal disruptions and stellar collisions, we have found that there should be a significant depletion of the giant stars in the innermost regions of the nucleus. Our models also suggest that tidal disruptions were found to have a larger effect on the depletion of giant stars than stellar collisions in this region.
Recommended Citation
Geiss, Brian B., "The Effect of Tidal Disruptions on Giant Stars in the Galactic Center" (2011). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. 123.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/123