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1.
In large spheroidal stellar systems, such as elliptical galaxies, one invariably finds a  106–109 M⊙  supermassive black hole at their centre. In contrast, within dwarf elliptical galaxies one predominantly observes a  105–107 M⊙  nuclear star cluster. To date, few galaxies have been found with both types of nuclei coexisting and even less have had the masses determined for both central components. Here, we identify one dozen galaxies housing nuclear star clusters and supermassive black holes whose masses have been measured. This doubles the known number of such hermaphrodite nuclei – which are expected to be fruitful sources of gravitational radiation. Over the host spheroid (stellar) mass range  108–1011 M⊙  , we find that a galaxy's nucleus-to-spheroid (baryon) mass ratio is not a constant value but decreases from a few per cent to ∼0.3 per cent such that  log[( M BH+ M NC)/ M sph]=−(0.39 ± 0.07) log[ M sph/1010 M⊙]− (2.18 ± 0.07)  . Once dry merging commences and the nuclear star clusters disappear, this ratio is expected to become a constant value.
As a byproduct of our investigation, we have found that the projected flux from resolved nuclear star clusters is well approximated with Sérsic functions having a range of indices from ∼0.5 to ∼3, the latter index describing the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster.  相似文献   

2.
We study the origin of unresolved X-ray emission from the bulge of M31 based on archival Chandra and XMM–Newton observations. We demonstrate that three different components are present. (i) Broad-band emission from a large number of faint sources – mainly accreting white dwarfs and active binaries, associated with the old stellar population, similar to the Galactic ridge X-ray emission of the Milky Way. The X-ray to K -band luminosity ratios are compatible with those for the Milky Way and for M32; in the 2–10 keV band, the ratio is  (3.6 ± 0.2) × 1027 erg s−1 L−1⊙  . (ii) Soft emission from ionized gas with a temperature of about ∼300 eV and a mass of  ∼2 × 106 M⊙  . The gas distribution is significantly extended along the minor axis of the galaxy, suggesting that it may be outflowing in the direction perpendicular to the galactic disc. The mass and energy supply from evolved stars and Type Ia supernovae is sufficient to sustain the outflow. We also detect a shadow cast on the gas emission by spiral arms and the 10-kpc star-forming ring, confirming significant extent of the gas in the 'vertical' direction. (iii) Hard extended emission from spiral arms, most likely associated with young stellar objects and young stars located in the star-forming regions. The   L X/SFR  (star formation rate) ratio equals  ∼9 × 1038 (erg s−1)(M⊙ yr−1)−1  , which is about ∼1/3 of the high-mass X-ray binary contribution, determined earlier from Chandra observations of other nearby galaxies.  相似文献   

3.
We present HST /WFPC2 observations of UGC 4483, an irregular galaxy in the M81/NGC 2403 complex. Stellar photometry was carried out with HSTphot, and is complete to V ≃26.0 and I ≃24.7. We measure the red giant branch tip at I =23.56±0.10, and calculate a distance modulus of μ 0=27.53±0.12 (corresponding to a distance of 3.2±0.2 Mpc), placing UGC 4483 within the NGC 2403 subgroup. We were able to measure properties of a previously known young star cluster in UGC 4483, finding integrated magnitudes of V =18.66±0.21 and I =18.54±0.10 for the stellar contribution (integrated light minus H α and [O  iii ] contribution), corresponding to an age of ∼10–15 Myr and an initial mass of ∼104 M⊙. This is consistent with the properties of the cluster's brightest stars, which were resolved in the data for the first time. Finally, a numerical analysis of the galaxy's stellar content yields a roughly constant star formation rate of 1.3×10−3 M⊙ yr−1 and mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=−1.3 dex from 15 Gyr ago to the present.  相似文献   

4.
We present a new determination of the local volume-averaged star formation rate from the 1.4-GHz luminosity function of star forming galaxies. Our sample, taken from the   B ≤12  Revised Shapley–Ames catalogue (231 normal spiral galaxies over an effective area of 7.1 sr) has ≃100 per cent complete radio detections and is insensitive to dust obscuration and cirrus contamination. After removal of known active galaxies, the best-fitting Schechter function has a faint-end slope of  −1.27±0.07  in agreement with the local H α luminosity function, characteristic luminosity   L ∗=(2.6±0.7)×1022 W Hz−1  and density   φ ∗=(4.8±1.1)×10−4 Mpc−3.  The inferred local radio luminosity density of  (1.73±0.37±0.03)×1019 W Hz−1 Mpc−3  (Poisson noise, large-scale structure fluctuations) implies a volume-averaged star formation rate ∼2 times larger than the Gallego et al. H α estimate, i.e.   ρ 1.4 GHz=(2.10±0.45±0.04)×10−2 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3  for a Salpeter initial mass function from  0.1–125 M⊙  and Hubble constant of 50 km s−1 Mpc−1. We demonstrate that the Balmer decrement is a highly unreliable extinction estimator, and argue that optical–ultraviolet (UV) star formation rates (SFRs) are easily underestimated, particularly at high redshift.  相似文献   

5.
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6.
We have used the Swedish ESO Submillimeter Telescope to observe the molecular gas in the Circinus galaxy using the CO(1 → 0) transition as a tracer. The central region and major axis have been mapped and several other points were also observed. The gas in the galaxy is concentrated towards the nucleus, the peak being coincident with the radio/optical core. The inclination of the molecular galactic disc is more comparable to that of the radio continuum than to that of the large-scale H  i emission. Evidence for an anomalous spur structure pointing radially away from the galactic centre is presented, and may indicate a causal link between it and similar features seen in optical lines and radio continuum. Our data suggest the presence of a central molecular ring or disc with radius 300 ± 50 pc and a rotation velocity of about 200 km s−1 (assuming i  = 73°). The dynamical mass of the nucleus is estimated to be no greater than 3.9 × 109 M⊙. Assuming that the distribution of gas varies smoothly in the outer regions, we calculate the mass of molecular gas in the galaxy to be at least M mol = 1.1 × 109 M⊙, and the star-forming efficiency to be 11 ± 2 L⊙ M⊙−1. These results imply that Circinus is undergoing a massive central starburst which may be, at least partially, responsible for its extended minor axis emission seen in several wavebands.  相似文献   

7.
The first spectroscopic census of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) associated with late-type galaxies in the Virgo cluster was carried out by observing 213 out of a complete set of 237 galaxies more massive than   M dyn > 108.5 M⊙  . Among them, 77 are classified as AGNs [including 21 transition objects, 47 low-ionization nuclear emission regions (LINERs) and nine Seyferts] and comprise 32 per cent of the late-type galaxies in Virgo. Due to spectroscopic incompleteness, at most 21 AGNs are missed in the survey, so that the fraction would increase up to 41 per cent. Using corollary near-infrared observations that enable us to estimate galaxy dynamical masses, it is found that AGNs are hosted exclusively in massive galaxies, i.e.   M dyn≳ 1010 M⊙  . Their frequency increases steeply with the dynamical mass from zero at   M dyn≈ 109.5 M⊙  to virtually 1 at   M dyn > 1011.5 M⊙  . These frequencies are consistent with those of low-luminosity AGNs found in the general field by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Massive galaxies that harbour AGNs commonly show conspicuous r -band star-like nuclear enhancements. Conversely, they often, but not necessarily, contain massive bulges. A few well-known AGNs (e.g. M61, M100, NGC 4535) are found in massive Sc galaxies with little or no bulge. The AGN fraction seems to be only marginally sensitive to galaxy environment. We infer the black hole masses using the known scaling relations of quiescent black holes. No black holes lighter than  ∼106 M⊙  are found active in our sample.  相似文献   

8.
Using new and archival radio data, we have measured the proper motion of the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cyg to be  9.2 ± 0.3 mas yr−1  . Combined with the systemic radial velocity from the literature, we derive the full three-dimensional heliocentric space velocity of the system, which we use to calculate a peculiar velocity in the range 47–102 km s−1, with a best-fitting value of 64 km s−1. We consider possible explanations for the observed peculiar velocity and find that the black hole cannot have formed via direct collapse. A natal supernova is required, in which either significant mass  (∼11 M⊙)  was lost, giving rise to a symmetric Blaauw kick of up to ∼65 km s−1, or, more probably, asymmetries in the supernova led to an additional kick out of the orbital plane of the binary system. In the case of a purely symmetric kick, the black hole must have been formed with a mass  ∼9 M⊙  , since when it has accreted  0.5–1.5 M⊙  from its companion.  相似文献   

9.
In this paper we report on optical spectroscopic observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 2S 0921–630 obtained with the Very Large Telescope. We found sinusoidal radial velocity variations of the companion star with a semi-amplitude of  99.1 ± 3.1 km s−1  modulated on a period of 9.006 ± 0.007 d, consistent with the orbital period found previously for this source, and a systemic velocity of  44.4 ± 2.4 km s−1  . Owing to X-ray irradiation, the centre of light measured by the absorption lines from the companion star is probably shifted with respect to the centre of mass. We try to correct for this using the so-called K -correction. Conservatively applying the maximum correction possible and using the previously measured rotational velocity of the companion star, we find a lower limit to the mass of the compact object in 2S 0921–630 of   MX sin3 i > 1.90 ± 0.25 M⊙  (1σ errors). The inclination in this system is well constrained since partial eclipses have been observed in X-ray and optical bands. For inclinations in the range  60° < i < 90°  we find  1.90 ± 0.25 < MX < 2.9 ± 0.4 M⊙  . However, using this maximum K -correction we find that the ratio between the mass of the companion star and that of the compact object, q , is 1.32 ± 0.37, implying super-Eddington mass-transfer rates; however, evidence for that has not been found in 2S 0921–630. We conclude that the compact object in 2S 0921–630 is either a (massive) neutron star or a low-mass black hole.  相似文献   

10.
It has been recently shown that the dynamical V -band mass-to-light ratios of compact stellar systems with masses from 106 to  108 M⊙  are not consistent with the predictions from simple stellar population models. Top-heavy stellar initial mass functions (IMFs) in these so-called ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) offer an attractive explanation for this finding, the stellar remnants and retained stellar envelopes providing the unseen mass. We therefore construct a model which quantifies by how much the IMFs of UCDs would have to deviate in the intermediate- and high-mass range from the canonical IMF in order to account for the enhanced   M / LV   ratio of the UCDs. The deduced high-mass IMF in the UCDs depends on the age of the UCDs and the number of faint products of stellar evolution retained by them. Assuming that the IMF in the UCDs is a three-part power law equal to the canonical IMF in the low-mass range and taking 20 per cent as a plausible choice for the fraction of the remnants of high-mass stars retained by UCDs, the model suggests the exponent of the high-mass IMF to be ≈1.6 if the UCDs are  13 Gyr  old (i.e. almost as old as the Universe) or ≈1.0 if the UCDs are  7 Gyr  old, in contrast to 2.3 for the Salpeter–Massey IMF. If the IMF was as top heavy as suggested here, the stability of the UCDs might have been threatened by heavy mass loss induced by the radiation and evolution of massive stars. The central densities of UCDs must have been in the range  106 to 107 M⊙ pc−3  when they formed with star formation rates of  10 to 100 M⊙ yr−1  .  相似文献   

11.
Using the spectroscopic sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 1 (SDSS DR1), we measure how gas was transformed into stars as a function of time and stellar mass: the baryonic conversion tree (BCT). There is a clear correlation between early star formation activity and present-day stellar mass: the more massive galaxies have formed approximately 80 per cent of their stars at   z > 1  , while for the less massive ones the value is only approximately 20 per cent. By comparing the BCT with the dark matter merger tree, we find indications that star formation efficiency at   z > 1  had to be approximately a factor of two higher than today (∼10 per cent) in galaxies with present-day stellar mass larger than  2 × 1011 M⊙  , if this early star formation occurred in the main progenitor. Therefore, the λ cold dark matter (LCDM) paradigm can accommodate a large number of red objects. On the other hand, in galaxies with present-day stellar mass less than  1011 M⊙  , efficient star formation seems to have been triggered at   z ∼ 0.2  . We show that there is a characteristic mass  ( M *∼ 1010 M⊙)  for feedback efficiency (or lack of star formation). For galaxies with masses lower than this, feedback (or star formation suppression) is very efficient while for higher masses it is not. The BCT, determined here for the first time, should be an important observable with which to confront theoretical models of galaxy formation.  相似文献   

12.
We present the results of Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) H  i line and 20-cm radio continuum observations of the galaxy quartet NGC 6845. The H  i emission extends over all four galaxies but can only be associated clearly with the two spiral galaxies, NGC 6845A and B, which show signs of strong tidal interaction. We derive a total H  i mass of at least  1.8 × 1010 M⊙  , most of which is associated with NGC 6845A, the largest galaxy of the group. We investigate the tidal interaction between NGC 6845A and B by studying the kinematics of distinct H  i components and their relation to the known H  ii regions. No H  i emission is detected from the two lenticular galaxies, NGC 6845C and D. A previously uncatalogued dwarf galaxy, ATCA  J2001−4659  , was detected 4.4 arcmin NE from NGC 6845B and has an H  i mass of  ∼5 × 108 M⊙  . No H  i bridge is visible between the group and its newly detected companion. Extended 20-cm radio continuum emission is detected in NGC 6845A and B as well as in the tidal bridge between the two galaxies. We derive star formation rates of  15–40 M⊙ yr−1  .  相似文献   

13.
A comparison between published field galaxy stellar mass functions (GSMFs) shows that the cosmic stellar mass density is in the range 4–8 per cent of the baryon density (assuming  Ωb= 0.045  ). There remain significant sources of uncertainty for the dust correction and underlying stellar mass-to-light ratio even assuming a reasonable universal stellar initial mass function. We determine the   z < 0.05  GSMF using the New York University Value-Added Galaxy Catalog sample of 49 968 galaxies derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and various estimates of stellar mass. The GSMF shows clear evidence for a low-mass upturn and is fitted with a double Schechter function that has  α2≃−1.6  . At masses below  ∼108.5 M⊙  , the GSMF may be significantly incomplete because of missing low-surface-brightness galaxies. One interpretation of the stellar mass–metallicity relation is that it is primarily caused by a lower fraction of available baryons converted to stars in low-mass galaxies. Using this principle, we determine a simple relationship between baryonic mass and stellar mass and present an 'implied baryonic mass function'. This function has a faint-end slope,  α2≃−1.9  . Thus, we find evidence that the slope of the low-mass end of the galaxy mass function could plausibly be as steep as the halo mass function. We illustrate the relationship between halo baryonic mass function → galaxy baryonic mass function → GSMF. This demonstrates the requirement for peak galaxy formation efficiency at baryonic masses  ∼1011 M⊙  corresponding to a minimum in feedback effects. The baryonic-infall efficiency may have levelled off at lower masses.  相似文献   

14.
Many objects studied in astronomy follow a power-law distribution function (DF), for example the masses of stars or star clusters. A still used method by which such data is analysed is to generate a histogram and fit a straight line to it. The parameters obtained in this way can be severely biased, and the properties of the underlying DF, such as its shape or a possible upper limit, are difficult to extract. In this work, we review techniques available in the literature and present newly developed (effectively) bias-free estimators for the exponent and the upper limit. Furthermore, we discuss various graphical representations of the data and powerful goodness-of-fit tests to assess the validity of a power law for describing the distribution of data. As an example, we apply the presented methods to the data set of massive stars in R136 and the young star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud. For R136 we confirm the result of Koen of a truncated power law with a bias-free estimate for the exponent of  2.20 ± 0.78/2.87 ± 0.98  (where the Salpeter–Massey value is 2.35) and for the upper limit of  143 ± 9/163 ± 9 M⊙  , depending on the stellar models used. The star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (with ages up to  107.5 yr  ) follow a truncated power-law distribution with exponent  1.62 ± 0.06  and upper limit  68 ± 12 × 103 M⊙  . Using the graphical data representation, a significant change in the form of the mass function below  102.5 M⊙  can be detected, which is likely caused by incompleteness in the data.  相似文献   

15.
We report the detection of a 5.8 Å– 104 s periodicity in the 0.5–10 keV X-ray light curve of the Seyfert galaxy IRAS 18325–5926, obtained from a 5-d ASCA observation. Nearly nine cycles of the periodic variation are seen; it shows no strong energy dependence and has an amplitude of about 15 per cent. Unlike most other well-studied Seyfert galaxies, there is no evidence for strong power-law red noise in the X-ray power spectrum of IRAS 18325–5926. Scaling from the QPOs found in Galactic black hole candidates suggests that the mass of the black hole in IRAS 18325–5926 is ∼ 6 Å– 106–4 Å– 107 M⊙.  相似文献   

16.
An empirically motivated model is presented for accretion-dominated growth of supermassive black holes (SMBH) in galaxies, and the implications are studied for the evolution of the quasar population in the Universe. We investigate the core aspects of the quasar population, including space density evolution, evolution of the characteristic luminosity, plausible minimum masses of quasars, the mass function of SMBH and their formation epoch distribution. Our model suggests that the characteristic luminosity in the quasar luminosity function arises primarily as a consequence of a characteristic mass scale above which there is a systematic separation between the black hole and the halo merging rates. At lower mass scales, black hole merging closely tracks the merging of dark haloes. When combined with a declining efficiency of black hole formation with redshift, the model can reproduce the quasar luminosity function over a wide range of redshifts. The observed space density evolution of quasars is well described by formation rates of SMBH above  ∼108  M⊙  . The inferred mass density of SMBH agrees with that found independently from estimates of the SMBH mass function derived empirically from the quasar luminosity function.  相似文献   

17.
Active galactic nuclei can produce extremely powerful jets. While tightly collimated, the scale of these jets and the stellar density at galactic centres implies that there will be many jet/star interactions, which can mass load the jet through stellar winds. Previous work employed modest wind mass outflow rates, but this does not apply when mass loading is provided by a small number of high mass-loss stars. We construct a framework for jet mass loading by stellar winds for a broader spectrum of wind mass-loss rates than has previously been considered. Given the observed stellar mass distributions in galactic centres, we find that even highly efficient (0.1 Eddington luminosity) jets from supermassive black holes of masses M BH≲ 104 M⊙ are rapidly mass loaded and quenched by stellar winds. For  104 M⊙ < M BH < 108 M⊙  , the quenching length of highly efficient jets is independent of the jet's mechanical luminosity. Stellar wind mass loading is unable to quench efficient jets from more massive engines, but can account for the observed truncation of the inefficient M87 jet, and implies a baryon-dominated composition on scales ≳2 kpc therein even if the jet is initially pair plasma dominated.  相似文献   

18.
The cluster 3C 129 is classified as a rich cluster. An analysis of the properties of the cluster 3C 129 from ROSAT PSPC and HRI, Einstein IPC, and EXOSAT ME observations is presented. The mean temperature from a joint fit of the ROSAT PSPC and EXOSAT ME data is 5.5(±0.2) keV. The luminosity is 0.6×1044 erg s−1 in 0.2–2.4 keV and 2.7×1044 erg s−1 in 0.2–10 keV. We find a cooling flow with a rate of ∼84 M⊙ yr−1. The central gas density is 6×10−3 cm−3, and the ICM mass is 3.6×1013 M⊙. The total cluster mass is ∼5×1014 M⊙. The X-ray morphology shows an east–west elongation, which is evidence for a recent merger event. The radio source 3C 129.1 is located near the X-ray centre. Another cluster member galaxy (the radio galaxy 3C 129) is a prototype of head-tailed radio galaxies, and is located in the west part of the cluster. The tail points along the gradient of intracluster gas pressure. There are no significant point X-ray sources associated with the AGNs of the two radio galaxies.  相似文献   

19.
We investigate the role that dry mergers play in the build-up of massive galaxies within the cold dark matter paradigm. Implementing an empirical shut-off mass scale for star formation, we find a nearly constant dry merger rate of  ∼6 × 10−5 Mpc−3 Gyr−1  at   z ≤ 1  and a steep decline at larger z . Less than half of these mergers are between two galaxies that are morphologically classified as early-types, and the other half is mostly between an early- and late-type galaxy. Latter are prime candidates for the origin of tidal features around red elliptical galaxies. The introduction of a transition mass scale for star formation has a strong impact on the evolution of galaxies, allowing them to grow above a characteristic mass scale of   M *, c ∼ 6.3 × 1010 M⊙  by mergers only. As a consequence of this transition, we find that around   M *, c   , the fraction of 1:1 mergers is enhanced with respect to unequal mass major mergers. This suggests that it is possible to detect the existence of a transition mass scale by measuring the relative contribution of equal mass mergers to unequal mass mergers as a function of galaxy mass. The evolution of the high-mass end of the luminosity function is mainly driven by dry mergers at low z . We however find that only 10–20 per cent of galaxies more massive than   M *, c   experience dry major mergers within their last Gyr at any given redshift   z ≤ 1  .  相似文献   

20.
We consider the problem of tidal disruption of stars in the centre of a galaxy containing a supermassive binary black hole with unequal masses. We assume that over the separation distance between the black holes, the gravitational potential is dominated by the more massive primary black hole. Also, we assume that the number density of stars is concentric with the primary black hole and has a power-law cusp. We show that the bulk of stars with a small angular-momentum component normal to the black hole binary orbit can reach a small value of total angular momentum through secular evolution in the gravitational field of the binary, and hence they can be tidally disrupted by the larger black hole. This effect is analogous to the so-called Kozai effect well known in celestial mechanics. We develop an analytical theory for the secular evolution of the stellar orbits and calculate the rate of tidal disruption. We compare our analytical theory with a simple numerical model and find very good agreement.
Our results show that for a primary black hole mass of  ∼106–107 M⊙  , the black hole mass-ratio   q > 10−2  , cusp size ∼1 pc, the tidal disruption rate can be as large as  ∼10−2–1 M⊙ yr−1  . This is at least 102–104 times larger than estimated for the case of a single supermassive black hole. The duration of the phase of enhanced tidal disruption is determined by the dynamical-friction time-scale, and it is rather short: ∼105 yr. The dependence of the tidal disruption rate on the mass ratio, and on the size of the cusp, is also discussed.  相似文献   

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