What Happens When Giant Stars Encounter Black Holes? Understanding Partial Tidal Disruption Events

Giant stars undergoing Partial Tidal Disruption Events (PTDEs) near black holes lose parts of their envelopes but retain their dense cores. These remnants quickly re-expand into giant-like structures, often brighter than stars of similar mass. Repeated PTDEs gradually strip more mass, creating lighter giants without significantly altering their lifetimes. Observing such remnants near galactic centers could reveal past black hole activity and stellar dynamics.