Merger as intermittent accretion

Authors :: Morgan Le Delliou
Instituto de Física Teórica UAM/CSIC (IFT)
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [Madrid] (CSIC)
Centro de Astronomia e Astrofísica da Universidade de Lisboa (CAAUL)
Universidade de Lisboa (ULISBOA)
Source :: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 490:L43-L47
Publication Year :: 2008
Publisher :: EDP Sciences, 2008.
Abstract: The Self-Similar Secondary Infall Model (SSIM) is modified to simulate a merger event. The model encompass spherical versions of tidal stripping and dynamical friction that agrees with the Syer & White merger paradigm's behaviour. The SSIM shows robustness in absorbing even comparable mass perturbations and returning to its original state. It suggests the approach to be invertible and allows to consider accretion as smooth mass inflow merging and mergers as intermittent mass inflow accretion.<br />letter accepted by A&A 29/09/08, 4 pages, colour figures