Inclination and orbital-sense dependence of phase effects

Systematically characterize the dependence of binary–SMBH encounter outcomes on the binary inclination and the sense of internal binary motion, including the full $(\varphi_0,i)$ parameter space beyond coplanar prograde configurations.

Background

The simulations restrict the binary to a coplanar prograde orbit, making the initial binary phase the only independent variable. The paper argues qualitatively that inclination should narrow the phase-dependent structure and that retrograde motion should weaken the tidal perturbation.

Those expectations are not tested systematically. Exploring inclination together with phase, and comparing prograde and retrograde encounters, is required to determine whether the reported outcomes remain quantitatively or qualitatively robust.