Other
Scientific paper
Jul 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008hst..prop11609c&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #11609. Cycle 17
Other
Scientific paper
The existence of intermediate-mass black holes {IMBHs} in star clusters has been predicted by a variety of theoretical arguments and, more recently, by several large, realistic sets of collisional N-body simulations. Establishing their presence or absence at the centers of globular clusters would profoundly impact our understanding of problems ranging from the formation and long-term dynamical evolution of stellar systems, to the nature of the seeds and the growth mechanisms of the supermassive black holes {BHs} that inhabit the centers of most large, luminous galaxies. Observationally, the unambiguous signature of a massive central BH would be the discovery of central, unresolved X-ray or radio emission that is not consistent with more common stellar-mass accreting objects or pulsars. Yet, due to the largely uncertain details of accretion modeling, a precise mass determination of a central BH must necessarily come from stellar dynamics. This goal has not been achieved to date at the centers of Galactic globular clusters because of lack of adequate data as well as the use of too simplified methods of analysis. This situation can be overcome today through the combination of HST proper-motion measurements and state-of-the-art dynamical models specifically designed to take full advantage of this type of dataset. In this project, we will use two HST orbits to obtain another epoch of observations of NGC 6266. This cluster has photometric and structural properties that are consistent with current theoretical expectations for a cluster harboring an IMBH. Even more importantly, it is the only Galactic globular cluster for which there exists a detection of radio emission coincident with the cluster's core, and with a flux density that appears to rule out a stellar or binary origin. The goal of our project is to obtain proper motion measurements to either confirm an IMBH in this cluster and measure its mass, or to set limits to its mass and existence.;
No associations
LandOfFree
NGC 6266: The Smoking Gun of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes in Galactic Globular Clusters? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with NGC 6266: The Smoking Gun of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes in Galactic Globular Clusters?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and NGC 6266: The Smoking Gun of Intermediate-Mass Black Holes in Galactic Globular Clusters? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1320271