Three-body problems in astrophysics and beyond
Abstract:
The gravitational few-body problem is one of the oldest conundrums in astronomy and classical mechanics. Yet, its simplest instance, the three-body problem, has no general analytical solution, and only a partial statistical solution has been achieved so far. With the birth of gravitational wave astronomy and the rise in exoplanet discoveries, the three-body problem is again becoming central in explaining astrophysical phenomena.
I will describe our recent efforts in deriving a complete statistical solution to the non-hierarchical, chaotic three-body problem. I will then review the status of gravitational wave detections, and show how three-body interactions play a key role in several formation pathways of gravitational wave sources.
https://meet.google.com/mst-fchc-jys?hs=224
Daniela Bettoni