SIMBAD references

A gap in phase space is opened up by a binary supermassive black hole as it ejects stars in a galactic nucleus. This gap must be refilled before the single black hole that subsequently forms can disrupt or accrete stars. We compute loss cone refilling rates for a sample of elliptical galaxies as a function of the mass ratio of the binary that preceded the current, single black hole. Refilling times are of order 10¹⁰ yr or longer in bright elliptical galaxies. Tidal flaring rates in these galaxies might be much lower than predicted using steady state models.