The impact of recombination during tidal disruption events
Researchers used 3D hydrodynamic simulations with a realistic equation of state to study how chemical processes like hydrogen recombination and molecular hydrogen formation affect streams from tidal disruption events (TDEs). The findings show these processes rapidly thicken the stream, increasing its maximum width by factors ranging from a few to tens near peak fallback rates. This expansion affects later stages like self-intersection and luminosity.