Close stellar encounters at the Galactic Centre – I. The effect on the observed stellar populations

We model the effects of collisions and close encounters on stellar populations observed in Milky Way nuclear cluster (NSC). Our analysis is based $N$-body simulations which NSC forms by accretion massive clusters around a supermassive black hole. attach to our particles follow evolution their stars, rate encounters. The most common are between pairs main-sequence lead mergers: destructive stars compact objects rare. find that small for three reasons. First, models possess core limits maximum density. Secondly, velocity dispersion similar surface escape velocities minimises collision rate. Finally, whilst destroy bright giants accelerating evolution, they also create them lower-mass stars. These two approximately cancel out. investigate whether G2 cloud could be fuzzball: has accreted tenuous envelope encounter with red giant. conclude fuzzballs cores below $2\,M_\odot$ have thermal times-scales too short reproduce G2. A fuzzball black-hole properties but production such low.