English

Black Holes and Galactic Density Cusps : From Black Hole to Bulge

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2015-05-14 v4

Abstract

Aims. In this paper we continue our study of density cusps that may contain central black holes. Methods. We recall our attempts to use distribution functions with a memory of self-similar relaxation, but mostly they apply only in restricted regions of the global system. We are forced to consider related distribution functions that are steady but not self-similar. Results. One remarkably simple distribution function that has a filled loss cone describes a bulge that transits from a near black hole domain to an outer 'zero flux' regime whereρr7/4\rho\propto r^{-7/4}. The transition passes from an initial inverse square profile through a region having a 1/r density profile. The structure is likely to be developed at an early stage in the growth of a galaxy. A central black hole is shown to grow exponentially in this background with an e-folding time of a few million years. Conclusions. We derive our results from first principles, using only the angular momentum integral in spherical symmetry. The initial relaxation probably requires bar instabilities and clump-clump interactions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0911.2238,
  title  = {Black Holes and Galactic Density Cusps : From Black Hole to Bulge},
  author = {Morgan Le Delliou and Richard N. Henriksen and Joseph D. Macmillan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0911.2238},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

6 pp, 2 figs, accepted in A&A