N-body simulations in galactic nuclei

Advisor: Hang Yu

We will study the dynamical evolution of a stellar binary in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole in the galactic center. We will apply a combination of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation (using publicly available code Rebound with python). Key questions to explore include the eccentricity excitation of the binary through the Kozai mechanism and the long-term stability of the triple system. The study will have implications to current and future gravitational-wave observations.