Laplace surface of eccentric orbits around Kerr black hole and black-hole effects on Lidov-Kozai cycles

Abstract

We study the Laplace surface of eccentric orbits around a Kerr black hole with a companion star. The two relativistic effects (periapsis apsidal precession and Lense-Thirring precession) balance companion's tidal effect. By solving the secular equations, we find that the two branches of equilibrium solutions exist only in a narrow range of orbital inclinations of test particle, and that the stability exists when companion's obliquity approaches 90 degree. We then study the black-hole effects on Lidov-Kozai cycles. In addition to the black-hole suppression on cycle amplitude, we find that the cycle frequency is non-monotonic about distance from black hole and reaches its minimum in the transition between GR apsidal precession and companions's tidal precession. Finally we use this mechanism to well interpret the nearly isotropic orientation of S-cluster in the Galactic center.