Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?

Studies have suggested that there is a strong correlation between the masses of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and their host galaxies, a correlation which is said to be an extension of the well-known correlations between supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their host galaxies. But careful analysis o...

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Main Authors: Peter Erwin, Dimitri Alexei Gadotti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Advances in Astronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/946368
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author Peter Erwin
Dimitri Alexei Gadotti
author_facet Peter Erwin
Dimitri Alexei Gadotti
author_sort Peter Erwin
collection DOAJ
description Studies have suggested that there is a strong correlation between the masses of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and their host galaxies, a correlation which is said to be an extension of the well-known correlations between supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their host galaxies. But careful analysis of disk galaxies—including 2D bulge/disk/bar decompositions—shows that while SMBHs correlate with the stellar mass of the bulge component of galaxies, the masses of NSCs correlate much better with the total galaxy stellar mass. In addition, the mass ratio MNSC/M⋆, tot for NSCs in spirals (at least those with Hubble types Sc and later) is typically an order of magnitude smaller than the mass ratio MBH/M⋆, bul of SMBHs. The absence of a universal “central massive object” correlation argues against common formation and growth mechanisms for both SMBHs and NSCs. We also discuss evidence for a break in the NSC-host galaxy correlation, galaxies with Hubble types earlier than Sbc appear to host systematically more massive NSCs than do types Sc and later.
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spelling doaj-art-1908d633ef3146659bd16864e425bcd02025-08-20T03:54:14ZengWileyAdvances in Astronomy1687-79691687-79772012-01-01201210.1155/2012/946368946368Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?Peter Erwin0Dimitri Alexei Gadotti1Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstraβe, 85748 Garching, GermanyEuropean Southern Observatory, Alonso de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Casilla 19001, Santiago 19, ChileStudies have suggested that there is a strong correlation between the masses of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and their host galaxies, a correlation which is said to be an extension of the well-known correlations between supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their host galaxies. But careful analysis of disk galaxies—including 2D bulge/disk/bar decompositions—shows that while SMBHs correlate with the stellar mass of the bulge component of galaxies, the masses of NSCs correlate much better with the total galaxy stellar mass. In addition, the mass ratio MNSC/M⋆, tot for NSCs in spirals (at least those with Hubble types Sc and later) is typically an order of magnitude smaller than the mass ratio MBH/M⋆, bul of SMBHs. The absence of a universal “central massive object” correlation argues against common formation and growth mechanisms for both SMBHs and NSCs. We also discuss evidence for a break in the NSC-host galaxy correlation, galaxies with Hubble types earlier than Sbc appear to host systematically more massive NSCs than do types Sc and later.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/946368
spellingShingle Peter Erwin
Dimitri Alexei Gadotti
Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
Advances in Astronomy
title Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
title_full Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
title_fullStr Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
title_full_unstemmed Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
title_short Do Nuclear Star Clusters and Supermassive Black Holes Follow the Same Host-Galaxy Correlations?
title_sort do nuclear star clusters and supermassive black holes follow the same host galaxy correlations
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/946368
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