N. Lützgendorf

Kinematic signature of an intermediate-mass black hole in the globular cluster NGC 6388 ,

Context. Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) are of interest in a wide range of astrophysical fields. In particular, the possibility of finding them at the centers of globular clusters has recently drawn attention. IMBHs became detectable since the quality of observational data sets, particularly those obtained with HST and with high resolution ground based spectrographs, advanced to the point where it is possible to measure velocity dispersions at a spatial resolution comparable to the size of the gravitational sphere of influence for plausible IMBH masses.

Very Large Telescope Kinematics for Omega Centauri: Further Support for A Central Black Hole

The Galactic globular cluster. Centauri is a prime candidate for hosting an intermediate- mass black hole. Recent measurements lead to contradictory conclusions on this issue. We use VLT- FLAMES to obtain new integrated spectra for the central region of. Centauri. We combine these data with existing measurements of the radial velocity dispersion profile taking into account a new derived center from kinematics and two different centers from the literature. The data support previous measurements performed for a smaller field of view and show a discrepancy with the results from a large proper motion data set. We see a rise in the radial velocity dispersion in the central region to 22.8 +/- 1.2 km s(-1), which provides a strong sign for a central black hole. Isotropic dynamical models for. Centauri imply black hole masses ranging from 3.0 x 10(4) to 5.2 x 10(4) M(circle dot) depending on the center. The best-fitted mass is (4.7 +/- 1.0) x 10(4) M(circle dot).

Limits On Intermediate-Mass Black Holes In Six Galactic Globular Clusters With Integral-Field Spectroscopy

Context. The formation of supermassive black holes at high redshift still remains a puzzle to astronomers. No accretion mechanism can explain the fast growth from a stellar mass black hole to several billion solar masses in less than one Gyr. The growth of supermassive black holes becomes reasonable only when starting from a massive seed black hole with mass on the order of 10 -10 M. Intermediate-mass black holes are therefore an important field of research. Especially the possibility of finding them in the centers of globular clusters has recently drawn attention. Searching for kinematic signatures of a dark mass in the centers of globular clusters provides a unique test for the existence of intermediate-mass black holes and will shed light on the process of black-hole formation and cluster evolution. Aims. We are investigating six galactic globular clusters for the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole at their centers. Based on their kinematic and photometric properties, we selected the globular clusters NGC 1851, NGC 1904 (M 79), NGC 5694, NGC 5824, NGC 6093 (M 80), and NGC 6266 (M 62). Methods. We used integral field spectroscopy to obtain the central velocity-dispersion profile of each cluster. In addition we completed these profiles with outer kinematic points from previous measurements for the clusters NGC 1851, NGC 1094, NGC 5824, and NGC 6093. We also computed the cluster photometric center and the surface brightness profile using HST data. After combining these datasets we compared them to analytic Jeans models. We used varying M/L profiles for clusters with enough data points in order to reproduce their kinematic profiles in an optimal way. Finally, we varried the mass of the central black hole and tested whether the cluster is better fitted with or without an intermediate-mass black hole. Results. We present the statistical significance, including upper limits, of the black-hole mass for each cluster. NGC 1904 and NGC 6266 provide the highest significance for a black hole. Jeans models in combination with a M/L profile obtained from N-body simulations (in the case of NGC 6266) predict a central black hole of M = (3 ± 1) × 10 M for NGC 1904 and M = (2 ± 1) × 10 M for NGC 6266. Furthermore, we discuss the possible influence of dark remnants and mass segregation at the center of the cluster on the detection of an IMBH.

On central black holes in ultra-compact dwarf galaxies

Context. The dynamical mass-to-light (M/L) ratios of massive ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) are about 50% higher than predicted by stellar population models. Aims. Here we investigate the possibility that these apparently elevated M/L ratios of UCDs are caused by a central black hole (BH) that heats up the internal motion of stars. We focus on a sample of ∼50 extragalactic UCDs from the literature for which velocity dispersions and structural parameters have been measured. Methods. To be self-consistent in our BH mass estimates, we first redetermine the dynamical masses and M/L ratios of our sample UCDs, using up-to-date distance moduli and a consistent treatment of aperture and seeing effects. On average, the homogeneously redetermined dynamical mass and M/L ratios agree to within 5% with previous literature results. We calculate the ratio Ψ= (M/L)dyn/(M/L)pop between the dynamical and the stellar population M/L for an assumed age of 13 Gyr. Ψ > 1 indicates an elevated dynamical M/L ratio, suggesting dark mass on top of a canonical stellar population of old age. For all UCDs with Ψ > 1w e estimate the mass of a hypothetical central black hole needed to reproduce the observed integrated velocity dispersion Results. Massive UCDs (M > 10 7 M� )h ave an average Ψ= 1.7 ± 0.2, implying notable amounts of dark mass in them. We find that, on average, central BH masses of 10–15% of the UCD mass can explain these elevated dynamical M/L ratios. The implied BH masses

MOCCA code for star cluster simulations – IV. A new scenario for intermediate mass black hole formation in globular clusters

We discuss a new scenario for the formation of intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs) in dense star clusters. In this scenario, IMBHs are formed as a result of dynamical interactions of hard binaries containing a stellar-mass black hole (BH), with other stars and binaries. We discuss the necessary conditions to initiate the process of intermediate mass BH formation and the influence of an IMBH on the host global globular cluster (GC) properties. We discuss two scenarios for IMBH formation. The SLOW and FAST scenarios. They occur later or earlier in the cluster evolution and require smaller or extremely large central densities, respectively. In our simulations, the formation of IMBHs is highly stochastic. In general, higher formation probabilities follow from larger cluster concentrations (i.e. central densities). We further discuss possible observational signatures of the presence of IMBHs in GCs that follow from our simulations. These include the spatial and kinematic structure of the host cluster, possible radio, X-ray and gravitational wave emissions due to dynamical collisions or mass transfer and the creation of hypervelocity main-sequence escapers during strong dynamical interactions between binaries and an IMBH. All simulations discussed in this paper were performed with the MOCCA (MOnte Carlo Cluster simulAtor) Monte Carlo code. MOCCA accurately follows most of the important physical processes that occur during the dynamical evolution of star clusters but, as with other dynamical codes, it approximates the dissipative processes connected with stellar collisions and binary mergers.

Large scale kinematics and dynamical modelling of the Milky Way nuclear star cluster

Context. Within the central 10 pc of our Galaxy lies a dense cluster of stars. This nuclear star cluster forms a distinct component of the Galaxy, and similar nuclear star clusters are found in most nearby spiral and elliptical galaxies. Studying the structure and kinematics of nuclear star clusters reveals the history of mass accretion and growth of galaxy nuclei and central massive black holes. Aims. Because the Milky Way nuclear star cluster is at a distance of only 8 kpc, we can spatially resolve the cluster on sub-parsec scales. This makes the Milky Way nuclear star cluster a reference object for understanding the formation of all nuclear star clusters. Methods. We have used the near-infrared long-slit spectrograph ISAAC (VLT) in a drift-scan to construct an integral-field spectroscopic map of the central 9:5 8 pc of our Galaxy, and six smaller fields out to 19 pc along the Galactic plane. We use this spectroscopic data set to extract stellar kinematics both of individual stars and from the unresolved integrated light spectrum. We present a velocity and dispersion map from the integrated light spectra and model these kinematics using kinemetry and axisymmetric Jeans models. We also measure radial velocities and CO bandhead strengths of 1375 spectra from individual stars. Results. We find kinematic complexity in the nuclear star clusters radial velocity map including a misalignment of the kinematic position angle by 9 counterclockwise relative to the Galactic plane, and indications for a rotating substructure perpendicular to the Galactic plane at a radius of 20 00 or 0.8 pc. We determine the mass of the nuclear star cluster within r = 4:2 pc to (1.4 +0:6 0:7 ) 10 7 M . We also show that our kinematic data results in a significant underestimation of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass. Conclusions. The kinematic substructure and position angle misalignment may hint at distinct accretion events. This indicates that the Milky Way nuclear star cluster grew at least partly by the mergers of massive star clusters. Compared to other nuclear star clusters, the Milky Way nuclear star cluster is on the compact side of the re MNSC relation. The underestimation of the SMBH mass might be caused by the kinematic misalignment and a stellar population gradient. But it is also possible that there is a bias in SMBH mass measurements obtained with integrated light, and this might a ect SMBH mass determinations of other galaxies.

A Dynamical N-body Model for the Central Region of

Context. Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are fundamental keys to understand the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. However, the formation and growth of SMBHs are not yet well understood. One of the proposed formation scenarios is the growth of SMBHs from seed intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs, 10 2 to 10 5 M� ) formed in star clusters. In this context, and also with respect to the low mass end of the M• − σ relation for galaxies, globular clusters are in a mass range that make them ideal systems to look for IMBHs. Among Galactic star clusters, the massive cluster ω Centauri is a special target due to its central high velocity dispersion and also its multiple stellar populations. Aims. We study the central structure and dynamics of the star cluster ω Centauri to examine whether an IMBH is necessary to explain the observed velocity dispersion and surface brightness profiles. Methods. We perform direct N-body simulations on GPU and GRAPE special purpose computers to follow the dynamical evolution of ω Centauri. The simulations are compared to the most recent data-sets in order to explain the present-day conditions of the cluster and to constrain the initial conditions leading to the observed profiles. Results. We find that starting from isotropic spherical multi-mass King models and within our canonical assumptions, a model with a

\omega

Context. Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) may provide the missing link to understanding the growth of supermassive black holes in the early Universe. Some formation scenarios predict that IMBHs could have formed by runaway collisions in globular clusters (GCs). However, it is challenging to set observational constraints on the mass of a black hole in a largely gas-free (and hence accretion-free) stellar system such as a GC. Understanding the influence of an IMBH in the center of a GC on its environment might provide indirect detection methods. Aims. Our goal is to test the effects of different initial compositions of GCs on their evolution in a tidal field. We pin down the crucial observables that indicate the presence of an IMBH at the center of the cluster. In addition to central IMBHs, we also consider the effects of different stellar-mass black hole retention and stellar binary fractions. Methods. We performed a set of 22 N-body simulations and varied particle numbers, IMBH masses, stellar-mass black-hole retention fractions, and stellar binary fractions. These models are all run in an external tidal field to study the effect of black holes on the cluster mass loss, mass function, and life times. Finally, we compared our results with observational data. Results. We found that a central massive black hole increases the escape rate of high-mass stars from a star cluster, implying that the relative depletion of the mass function at the low-mass end proceeds less rapidly. Furthermore, we found a similar behavior for a cluster hosting a high number of stellar-mass black holes instead of one massive central IMBH. The presence of an IMBH also weakly affects the fraction of the cluster mass that is constituted by stellar remnants, as does the presence of primordial binaries. We compared our simulations with observational data from the literature and found good agreement between our models and observed mass functions and structural parameters of GCs. We exploited this agreement to identify GCs that could potentially host IMBHs.

Centauri

Context. Globular clusters are an excellent laboratory for stellar population and dynamical research. Recent studies have shown that these stellar systems are not as simple as previously assumed. With multiple stellar populations as well as outer rotation and mass segregation they turn out to exhibit high complexity. This includes intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) which are proposed to sit at the centers of some massive globular clusters. Todays high angular resolution ground based spectrographs allow velocity-dispersion measurements at a spatial resolution comparable to the radius of influence for plausible IMBH masses, and to detect changes in the inner velocity-dispersion profile. Together with high quality photometric data from HST, it is possible to constrain black-hole masses by their kinematic signatures. Aims. We determine the central velocity-dispersion profile of the globular cluster NGC 2808 using VLT/FLAMES spectroscopy. In combination with HST/ACS data our goal is to probe whether this massive cluster hosts an IMBH at its center and constrain the cluster mass to light ratio as well as its total mass. Methods. We derive a velocity-dispersion profile from integral field spectroscopy in the center and Fabry Perot data for larger radii. High resolution HST data are used to obtain the surface brightness profile. Together, these data sets are compared to dynamical models with varying parameters such as mass to light ratio profiles and black-hole masses. Results. Using analytical Jeans models in combination with variable M/L V profiles from N-body simulations we find that the best fit model is a no black hole solution. After applying various Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the uncertainties, we derive an upper limit of the back hole mass of M BH < 1 × 10 4 M · (with 95% confidence limits) and a global mass-to-light ratio of M/L V = (2.1 ± 0.2) M ·/L ·.

N-body simulations of globular clusters in tidal fields: Effects of intermediate-mass black holes

Context. Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) fill the gap between stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes (SMBHs). The existence of the latter is widely accepted, but there are only few detections of intermediate-mass black holes (10-10M ) so far. Simulations have shown that intermediate-mass black holes may form in dense star clusters, and therefore may still be present in these smaller stellar systems. Also, extrapolating the M- σ scaling relation to lower masses predicts intermediate-mass black holes in systems with σ ∼ 10-20 km s such as globular clusters. Aims. We investigate the Galactic globular cluster NGC 5286 for indications of a central intermediate-mass black hole using spectroscopic data from VLT/FLAMES*, velocity measurements from the Rutgers Fabry Perot at CTIO, and photometric data from HST/ACS. Methods. We compute the photometric center, a surface brightness profile, and a velocity-dispersion profile. We run analytic spherical and axisymmetric Jeans models with different central black-hole masses, anisotropy, mass-to-light ratio, and inclination. Further, we compare the data to a grid of N-body simulations without tidal field. Additionally, we use one N-body simulation to check the results of the spherical Jeans models for the total cluster mass. Results. Both the Jeans models and the N-body simulations favor the presence of a central black hole in NGC 5286 and our detection is at the 1-to 1.5-σ level. From the spherical Jeans models we obtain a best fit with black-hole mass M = (1.5 ± 1.0) × 10 M. The error is the 68% confidence limit from Monte Carlo simulations. Axisymmetric models give a consistent result. The best fitting N-body model is found with a black hole of 0.9% of the total cluster mass (4.38 ± 0.18) × 10 M , which results in an IMBH mass of M = (3.9 ± 2.0) × 10 M. Jeans models give values for the total cluster mass that are lower by up to 34% due to a lower value of M/L. Our test of the Jeans models with N-body simulation data shows that the discrepancy in the total cluster mass has two reasons: The influence of a radially varying M/L profile, and underestimation of the velocity dispersion as the measurements are limited to bright stars, which have lower velocities than fainter stars. We conclude that detection of IMBHs in Galactic globular clusters remains a challenging task unless their mass fractions are above those found for SMBHs in nearby galaxies.