Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: We compute rates of tidal disruption of stars by supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei, using downwardly revised black hole masses from the M BH -σ relation. In galaxies with steep nuclear density profiles, which dominate the overall event rate, the disruption frequency varies inversely with assumed black hole mass. We compute a total rate for nondwarf galaxies of ~10 -5 yr -1 Mpc -3 , about a factor of 10 higher than in earlier studies. Disruption rates are predicted to be highest in nucleated dwarf galaxies, assuming that such galaxies contain black holes. Monitoring of a rich galaxy cluster for a few years could rule out the existence of intermediate-mass black holes in dwarf galaxies.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/379767
Authors: Jianxiang Wang, David Merritt
Institution: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G7301747165, G758023365, G8248377880
OpenAlex ID: W2069981283