BLACK-HOLE STELLAR ACCRETION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

We consider the accretion of main sequence or slightly evolved stars b y a massive Kerr black hole in an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We sh ow that in many cases the stars are stably accreted via Roche lobe ove rflow over 10(4) - 10(5) yr. If several stars accrete simultaneously, this is sufficient to power typical AGN. Periodic modulations would be rather weak, as each star contributes only a fraction of the luminosi ty. Long term variability (years) might result from the dynamical inst ability of mass transfer from one of the stars.