Abstract
- [*] Recent progress in the search for black holes in galactic nuclei
- van der Marel R.P.
- in `New light on galaxy evolution', Proceedings of
IAU Symp. 171, Bender R., Davies R.L., eds.,
Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 117-120, 1996
- © 1996. International Astronomical Union.
All Rights Reserved.
-
- [*]
Citations to
this paper in the ADS
Massive nuclear black holes (BHs) of 10^6 - 10^9 solar masses are
believed to be responsible for the the energy production in quasars
and active galaxies, and are thought to be present in many quiescent
galaxies as well. Dynamical evidence for this can be sought by
studying the dynamics of gas and stars in galactic nuclei at high
spatial resolution. This paper reviews the current evidence, with
emphasis on some recent developments and ongoing projects. The
evidence from water masers and gas kinematics in the active galaxies
NGC 4258 and M87 is compelling. In quiescent galaxies only stellar
kinematics are generally available. One well-studied case is
M32. Stellar dynamical f(E,L_z) models with a few million solar mass
BH fit the ground-based kinematical data remarkably well. N-body
simulations of an edge-on f(E,L_z) model for M32 show that this model
is stable. HST spectra should soon provide new and improved
constraints on the presence of BHs in quiescent galaxies.
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Last modified October 9, 2000.
Roeland van der Marel,
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