Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/210185

Title

Potential formation sites of super-star clusters in ultraluminous infrared galaxies

Author(s)

Bekki, Kenji;  Couch, Warrick J.

Abstract

Recent observational results on high spatial resolution images of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIGs) have revealed very luminous, young, compact, and heavily obscured super-star clusters in their central regions, suggested to be formed by gas-rich major mergers. By using stellar and gaseous numerical simulations of galaxy mergers, we first demonstrate that the central regions of ULIGs are the most promising formation sites of super-star clusters owing to the rather high gaseous pressure of the interstellar medium. Based on simple analytical arguments, we then discuss the possibility that super-star clusters in a ULIG can be efficiently transferred into the nuclear region owing to dynamical friction and consequently merge with one another to form a single compact stellar nucleus with a seed massive black hole. We thus suggest that multiple merging between super-star clusters formed by nuclear starbursts in the central regions of ULIGs can result in the formation of massive black holes.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 557, no. 1 (Aug 2001), pp. L19-L22

Publication year

2001

FOR Code(s)

0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences;  0305 Organic Chemistry;  0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

Keyword(s)

Galaxies: active;  Galaxies: interactions;  Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

ISSN

0004-637X

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/323139

Copyright

Copyright © 2001 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Peer reviewed