Semi-analytical theory derives radial scalings for forced disk eccentricity (E ~ r^{-1} or r^{-2}) and resonance criteria for precessing binaries, plus a conjecture that cavity size tunes the ground eccentric mode to the binary precession frequency.
Hydrodynamic Torques in Circumbinary Accretion Disks
2 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
Gaseous disks have been proposed as a mechanism for facilitating mergers of binary black holes. We explore circumbinary disk systems to determine the evolution of the central binary. To do so, we perform 3D, hydrodynamic, locally isothermal simulations of circumbinary disks on a Cartesian grid. We focus on binaries of equal mass ratios on fixed circular orbits. To investigate the orbital evolution of the binary, we examine the various torques exerted on the system. For the case where the disk plane and binary orbital plane are aligned, we find that the total torque is positive so that the semi-major axis of the binary increases. For the misaligned case, we run simulations with the binary orbital plane and disk midplane misaligned by 45\degree and find the same results - the binary grows. The timescale for the circumbinary disk to realign to the plane of the binary is consistent with the global viscous timescale of the disk.
citation-role summary
citation-polarity summary
years
2026 2roles
background 1polarities
background 1representative citing papers
A decade of gravitational-wave data shows most merging stellar-mass black holes have small spins, with subdominant fast-spinning, misaligned, and hierarchical-merger populations.
citing papers explorer
-
Insights from Analytical Theory of Eccentric Circumbinary Disks II. Forced Modes and Resonance for Precessing Binaries
Semi-analytical theory derives radial scalings for forced disk eccentricity (E ~ r^{-1} or r^{-2}) and resonance criteria for precessing binaries, plus a conjecture that cavity size tunes the ground eccentric mode to the binary precession frequency.
-
The first decade of gravitational-wave measurements of black hole spins
A decade of gravitational-wave data shows most merging stellar-mass black holes have small spins, with subdominant fast-spinning, misaligned, and hierarchical-merger populations.