Physics Seminar
Date: Thursday, 25 September 2025
Time: 01:45 p.m.
Venue: Seminar Hall
Stellar Dynamics and Astrophysical Transients in Centers of Galaxies
Karamveer Kaur
Guru Nanak Dev University & Raman Research Institute.
25-09-25

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Abstract

The centers of many galaxies host dense star clusters known as nuclear star clusters, often surrounding a central massive black hole (MBH). Various dynamical processes can funnel stars and compact objects, such as stellar-mass black holes, into the vicinity of the MBH. In these extremely dense environments, close encounters between stellar objects are common. As a result, galactic nuclei act as fertile grounds for a diverse range of multi-messenger transients, including tidal disruption events (TDEs) and extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs). In this talk, I will explore the physical mechanisms governing the dynamics of nuclear star clusters and the various formation channels of transients such as TDEs and EMRIs. Each dynamical channel leaves a distinct signature on the event rates and observable properties of these phenomena. The observational facilities, including wide-field survey instruments like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and upcoming low-frequency gravitational wave detectors such as LISA and TianQin, will play a crucial role in testing these predictions and constraining the physical conditions ingalactic nuclei.