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The ecology of the galactic centre : Nuclear stellar clusters and supermassive black holes

Davies, Melvyn B. LU ; Askar, Abbas LU orcid and Church, Ross P. LU orcid (2019) In Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 14(351). p.80-83
Abstract

Supermassive black holes are found in most galactic nuclei. A large fraction of these nuclei also contain a nuclear stellar cluster surrounding the black hole. Here we consider the idea that the nuclear stellar cluster formed first and that the supermassive black hole grew later. In particular we consider the merger of three stellar clusters to form a nuclear stellar cluster, where some of these clusters contain a single intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). In the cases where multiple clusters contain IMBHs, we discuss whether the black holes are likely to merge and whether such mergers are likely to result in the ejection of the merged black hole from the nuclear stellar cluster. In some cases, no supermassive black hole will form as... (More)

Supermassive black holes are found in most galactic nuclei. A large fraction of these nuclei also contain a nuclear stellar cluster surrounding the black hole. Here we consider the idea that the nuclear stellar cluster formed first and that the supermassive black hole grew later. In particular we consider the merger of three stellar clusters to form a nuclear stellar cluster, where some of these clusters contain a single intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). In the cases where multiple clusters contain IMBHs, we discuss whether the black holes are likely to merge and whether such mergers are likely to result in the ejection of the merged black hole from the nuclear stellar cluster. In some cases, no supermassive black hole will form as any merger product is not retained. This is a natural pathway to explain those galactic nuclei that contain a nuclear stellar cluster but apparently lack a supermassive black hole; M33 being a nearby example. Alternatively, if an IMBH merger product is retained within the nuclear stellar cluster, it may subsequently grow, e.g. via the tidal disruption of stars, to form a supermassive black hole.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
black holes, galactic nuclei, Stellar clusters
in
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
volume
14
issue
351
pages
4 pages
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85081989001
ISSN
1743-9213
DOI
10.1017/S1743921319006689
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
93ad523b-a82f-4bf5-8324-f2aecbc16c39
date added to LUP
2020-04-14 13:28:20
date last changed
2024-03-20 07:57:35
@article{93ad523b-a82f-4bf5-8324-f2aecbc16c39,
  abstract     = {{<p>Supermassive black holes are found in most galactic nuclei. A large fraction of these nuclei also contain a nuclear stellar cluster surrounding the black hole. Here we consider the idea that the nuclear stellar cluster formed first and that the supermassive black hole grew later. In particular we consider the merger of three stellar clusters to form a nuclear stellar cluster, where some of these clusters contain a single intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). In the cases where multiple clusters contain IMBHs, we discuss whether the black holes are likely to merge and whether such mergers are likely to result in the ejection of the merged black hole from the nuclear stellar cluster. In some cases, no supermassive black hole will form as any merger product is not retained. This is a natural pathway to explain those galactic nuclei that contain a nuclear stellar cluster but apparently lack a supermassive black hole; M33 being a nearby example. Alternatively, if an IMBH merger product is retained within the nuclear stellar cluster, it may subsequently grow, e.g. via the tidal disruption of stars, to form a supermassive black hole.</p>}},
  author       = {{Davies, Melvyn B. and Askar, Abbas and Church, Ross P.}},
  issn         = {{1743-9213}},
  keywords     = {{black holes; galactic nuclei; Stellar clusters}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{351}},
  pages        = {{80--83}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union}},
  title        = {{The ecology of the galactic centre : Nuclear stellar clusters and supermassive black holes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1743921319006689}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1743921319006689}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}