Physics and Astronomy - Ph.D. Thesis Defense
Idan Ginsburg, Dartmouth College
Location
Wilder 202
Sponsored by
Physics & Astronomy Department
Audience
Public
Title: On the Nature of Hypervelocity Stars
Abstract: ``Hypervelocity stars'' are stars ejected from the center of the
Milky Way, never to return. I shall discuss results from gravitational
N-body simulations that show how hypervelocity stars are produced by
three-body interactions between a binary star system and the supermassive
black hole that lies at the center of the Milky Way. I shall also discuss
how interactions with the black hole may lead to the formation of massive
stars through coalescence of the binary, and what may happen to planets
that wander near the Galactic Center. I shall conclude the presentation
with results of a recent observational program to help constrain the
nature and distance of these hypervelocity stars.
Location
Wilder 202
Sponsored by
Physics & Astronomy Department
Audience
Public