Extreme Mass Ratio Black Hole Inspirals (EMRIs)

Video description: Seven panels outlined in white show the orbits of stellar remnants around black holes. These are labeled “Two-lobe,” “Three-lobe,” and “Five-lobe” across the top, and “Bird’s nest,” “Retrograde Plunge,” “Spherical,” and “Zoom whirl” along the bottom. In each, the black hole is a black sphere at the center surrounded by a teal outline. Several also have a purple outline slightly further out; these are spinning black holes. As the video progresses, orange lines trace orbital paths around the black hole. The orange lines linger, then fade, briefly showing the orbital history of the object. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of all of the systems. In the starting view, the two-lobe and five-lobe orbits in the upper left and right look relatively flat while the others dip above and below the central plane. The camera rises, eventually ending its motion to show the face-on view of each system. At the end, complex spirals encircle each black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera tilts to show the system from above, the orbital pattern becomes visible. The orange line loops around the black hole, and after several full orbits there is a shape resembling a Venn diagram.

Video description: This visualization shows three views of the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. The main view on the left is labeled “Two-Lobe Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. In the main view, the orange line loops around the black hole, and after several full orbits there is a shape resembling a Venn diagram. The front and side views don’t change much throughout, showing the orange trail extending back and forth along a horizontal line.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes small loops and large arcing swings around the black hole. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from above, the complex pattern continues, showing three large lobes around the black hole, with smaller spirals closer in.

Video description: The main panel on the left is labeled “Late-stage Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller panels labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. In the main view, the compact stellar object alternately makes small loops and large arcing swings around the black hole. After several orbits, the pattern looks like three large lobes around the black hole, with smaller spirals closer in. In the side and front views, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as the stellar object loops around the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the orbital pattern comes into view. The orange line loops around the black hole, dipping in close then swinging around in a wider arc. After several full orbits, the pattern resembles a five-petal flower.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the orbital pattern comes into view. The orange line loops around the black hole, dipping in close then swinging around in a wider arc. After several full orbits, the pattern resembles a five-petal flower.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes several small loops around the black hole and then a large arcing swing. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the complex pattern continues. Taken together, the small loops form a tangled mess that forms a rough, squat cylinder around the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Bird’s Nest Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The top view shows the stellar remnant making several small loops around the black hole followed by a large arcing swing, then repeating with the small loops. In the side and front views, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as the stellar object loops around the black hole. Taken together, the small loops form a tangled mess that forms a rough, squat cylinder around the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object just as it plunges into a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant, which is traveling opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system, then pans to show the top-down view. The orange line starts by tracing several orbits close to the black hole, forming what looks like a tangled, squat cylinder around the black hole. Then it swings wide for several orbits before orbiting close to the black hole again. One final orbit brings the path inside the black hole’s ergosphere where the orbit immediately changes direction and darts into the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Retrograde Plunge Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant, which is traveling opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The orange line starts by tracing several orbits close to the black hole, forming what looks like a tangled, squat cylinder around the black hole. Then it swings wide for several orbits before orbiting close to the black hole again. One final orbit brings the path inside the black hole’s ergosphere where the orbit immediately changes direction and darts into the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. In this view, the orange trail darts above and below the black hole as it loops around the black hole. Each loop remains at the same distance from the black hole, precessing around the black hole. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the complex pattern continues. Taken together, the loops form a tangled mess that all sit on the surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Spherical Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. Each loop remains at the same distance from the black hole, precessing around the black hole. In the top view, taken together, these orbits look like a flower with many small petals. In the side and front view, the loops form a tangled mess that all sit on the surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding the black hole.

Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes a small loop around the black hole and then a large, arcing swing. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from above, the complex pattern continues. The shape and angle of the orbits change over time, tilting in different directions as the pattern of small and large loops continues.

Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Zoom-Whirl Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. In this view, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes a small loop around the black hole and then a large, arcing swing. The top view shows the large and small ovals that form around the black hole, while the changing tilt of the orbit is evident from the side and front views.