Harmonic-decomposition approach to dynamical friction for eccentric orbits

Journal article

Compact objects evolving in an astrophysical environment experience a gravitational drag force known as dynamical friction. We present a multipole-frequency decomposition to evaluate the orbit-averaged energy and angular momentum dissipation experienced by point masses on periodic orbits within a homogeneous, fluidlike background. Our focus is on eccentric Keplerian trajectories. Although our approach is currently restricted to linear response theory, it is fully consistent within that framework. We validate our theoretical expressions for the specific case of an ideal fluid, using semi-numerical simulations of the linear response acoustic wake. We demonstrate that, for a finite-time perturbation switched on at t=0, a steady dissipation state is reached after a time bounded by twice the sound crossing time of the apocenter distance. We apply our results to model the secular evolution of compact eccentric binaries in a gaseous medium, assuming low-density conditions where the orbital elements evolve adiabatically. For unequal-mass systems with moderate initial eccentricity, the late-time eccentricity growth is significantly delayed compared to the equal-mass case, due to the binary components becoming transonic at different times along their orbital trajectory. Our approach offers a computationally efficient alternative to full simulations of the linear response wake.

Authors: Eytan, G; Desjacques, V; Ginat, YB

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review D (Particles, Fields, Gravitation, and Cosmology)
• Volume: 113
• Issue: 2
• Article number: 023042
• Publication date: 2026-01-22
• Acceptance date: 2025-12-11
• DOI: 10.1103/tl9r-krhc
• EISSN: 2470-0029
• ISSN: 2470-0010
• Language: English
• Keywords: formation and evolution of stars and galaxies; gravitation; astronomical black holes; binary stars; galaxies