Exploring the correlations between globular cluster populations and supermassive black holes in giant galaxies

dc.altmetrics.displaytrueen
dc.contributor.authorRhode, K.L.en
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-30T19:40:53Zen
dc.date.available2014-10-30T19:40:53Zen
dc.date.issued2012en
dc.description.abstractThis paper presents an analysis of the correlation between the number of globular clusters ($N_{GC}$) in giant galaxies and the mass of the galaxies' central supermassive black hole ( $M_{SMBH}$). I construct a sample of 20 elliptical, spiral, and S0 galaxies with known SMBH masses and with accurately measured GC system properties derived from wide-field imaging studies. The coefficients of the best-fitting $N_{GC}-M_{SMBH}$ relation for the early-type galaxies are consistent with those from previous work but in some cases have smaller relative errors. I examine the correlation between $N_{GC}$ and $M_{SMBH}$ for various subsamples and find that elliptical galaxies show the strongest correlation, while S0 and pseudobulge galaxies exhibit increased scatter. I also compare the quality of the fit of the numbers of metal-poor GCs versus SMBH mass and the corresponding fit for metal-rich GCs. I supplement the 20 galaxy sample with 10 additional galaxies with reliable $N_{GC}$ determinations but without measured $M_{SMBH}$. I use this larger sample to investigate correlations between $N_{GC}$ and host galaxy properties like total galaxy luminosity and stellar mass, and bulge luminosity and mass. I find that the tightest correlation is between $N_{GC}$ and total galaxy stellar mass. This lends support to the notion that $N_{GC}$ and $M_{SMBH}$ are not directly linked but are correlated because both quantities depend on the host galaxy potential. Finally, I use the $N_{GC}-M_{SMBH}$ relation derived from the 20 galaxy sample to calculate predicted $M_{SMBH}$ values for the 10 galaxies with accurate $N_{GC}$ measurements but without measured SMBH masses.en
dc.identifier.citationRhode, K. L. (2012). Exploring the correlations between globular cluster populations and supermassive black holes in giant galaxies. Astronomical Journal, 144(5). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/154en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2022/19083
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherThe American Astronomical Societyen
dc.relation.isversionofhttps://doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/154en
dc.rights© 2012 The American Astronomical Societyen
dc.subjectblack hole physicsen
dc.subjectgalaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cDen
dc.subjectgalaxies: formationen
dc.subjectgalaxies: spiralen
dc.subjectgalaxies: star clusters: generalen
dc.subjectglobular clusters: generalen
dc.titleExploring the correlations between globular cluster populations and supermassive black holes in giant galaxiesen
dc.typeArticleen

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