Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jul 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005hst..prop10579r&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #10579
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Hst Proposal Id #10579 Galaxies
Scientific paper
The origin and formation mechanism for supermassive black holes {SMBHs} found in the centres of most, if not all, galaxies remains one of the outstanding questions in astrophysics. Most scenarios involve the presence of massive black holes in the early universe, formed by the collapse of primordial Population III stars. It is predicted that a relic of this population could still be present in galactic halos in the current epoch, possessing masses from a few hundred times solar mass upwards. However, to date no CONCLUSIVE evidence for such a class of "intermediate-mass" black holes has been found. The most likely current candidates are the ultraluminous X-ray sources {ULXs}, which show tantalising evidence for IMBHs {e.g. the extreme X-ray luminosities and low disk temperatures expected from accreting IMBHs}. We propose to address this issue by identifying optical counterparts for six of the nearest ULXs. We will use this programme as a pathfinder for future radial velocity measurements, which will allow the orbital parameters and hence the first undisputed mass constraints for these systems to be determined.
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