Galaxy Rotation and Supermassive Black Hole Binary Evolution

Understand

Supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries residing at the core of merging galaxies are recently found to be strongly affected by the rotation of their host galaxies.

• The highly eccentric orbits that form when the host is counterrotating emit strong bursts of gravitational waves that propel rapid SMBH binary coalescence.
• Most prior work, however, focused on planar orbits and a uniform rotation profile, an unlikely interaction configuration.
• However, the coupling between rotation and SMBH binary evolution appears to be such a strong dynamical process that it warrants further investigation.