Stellar Evolution and Pollution in AGN Disks

Douglas Lin (UC Santa Cruz)

July 03, 2025

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Abstract: Extended regions of accretion disks around supermassive black holes in bright AGNs are prone to gravitational instability, star formation and stellar dynamical evolution with feedback to the disks’ structure. Spectroscopic data provide vital clues on the stellar and residual black hole populations across cosmic time. These processes contribute to the observed brightness and spectral-energy distribution of AGN disks and the kinematic properties of the nuclear cluster in the Galactic Center. They also lead to the prolific production and coalescence of black holes as candidates for some gravitational wave events.