Description
We study the stellar distribution around a supermassive black hole (SMBH) in gas-rich nuclear star clusters (NSCs). NSCs could contain a substantial amount of gas, which could potentially contribute significantly to shaping the stellar distribution, typically forming a steeper cusp than the usual Bachall-Wolf distribution and accordingly affect the dynamics in the cluster. NSCs are dense environments where events that are considered rare in other environments could take place. Steepening the stellar cusp will enhance the rate of these events even further.
Here we extend the derivation introduced in Bahcall & Wolf 1976 to include an additional energy dissipation term associated with gas drag. We examine the effect of different forms of gas drag on the distribution and the effect of modified potentials. Finally, we discuss implications on the rates of tidal disruption events (TDEs) and other transients.
