Stellar dynamics in the nuclei of M31 and M32 - Evidence for massive black holes?

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Andromeda Galaxy, Black Holes (Astronomy), Galactic Nuclei, Stellar Motions, Calcium, Fine Structure, Galactic Rotation, Line Spectra, Mass To Light Ratios, Velocity Distribution

Scientific paper

The authors present new kinematic data based on the calcium IR triplet lines that define rotation and velocity dispersion profiles for the nuclei of M31 and M32 with high accuracy. These data confirm earlier work which indicated rapid rotation and high-velocity dispersions in the central few parsecs of both systems. Stellar dynamical models which allow for anisotropic velocity dispersions have been constructed using the maximum entropy technique. These models are used to derive synthetic spectra which are compared with the data. The authors conclude that constant M/L models are ruled out for both systems, regardless of the degree of anisotropy of the velocity dispersions. The most straightforward interpretation is that M31 and M32 harbor central black holes of ≡3 - 7×107 and ≡8×106 solar masses, respectively.

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