Stellar dynamics and black holes

DAVID MERRITT

Department of Physics, Rochester Institute of Technology, 78 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester,

NY 14623, USA

E-mail: merritt@astro.rit.edu

Abstract. Chandrasekhar’s most important contribution to stellar dynamics was the concept of

dynamical friction. I briefly review that work, then discuss some implications of Chandrasekhar’s

theory of gravitational encounters for motion in galactic nuclei.

Keywords. Celestial mechanics; relativity and gravitation.

PACS Nos 95.10.Ce; 95.30.Sf