  A star on a nearly radial trajectory approaching a massive black hole (MBH)
gets tidally disrupted if it comes sufficiently close to the MBH. Here we
explore what happens to binary stars whose centers of mass approach the MBH on
nearly radial orbits. The interaction with the MBH often leads to both stars
being disrupted in sequence. We argue that such events could produce light
curves that are substantially different from those of the single disruptions,
with possible features such as two local maxima. Tidal forces from the MBH can
also lead the binary components to collide; these merger products can form
highly magnetized stars, whose subsequent tidal disruption may enable prompt
jet formation.
