Supermassive black holes and central star clusters: Connection with the host galaxy kinematics and color

The relationship between the masses of the central, supermassive black holes (M _bh) and of the nuclear star clusters (M _nc) of disk galaxies with various parameters galaxies are considered: the rotational velocity at R = 2 kpc V ₍₂₎, the maximum rotational velocity V _max, the indicative dynamical mass M ₂₅, the integrated mass of the stellar populationM _*, and the integrated color index B-V. The rotational velocities andmasses of the central objects were taken from the literature. ThemassM _nc correlatesmore closely with the kinematic parameters and the disk mass than M _bh, including with the velocity V _max, which is closely related to the virial mass of the dark halo. On average, lenticular galaxies are characterized by higher massesM _bh compared to other types of galaxies with similar characteristics. The dependence of the blackhole mass on the color index is bimodal: galaxies of the red group (red-sequence) with B-V >0.6–0.7 which are mostly early-type galaxies with weak star formation, differ appreciably from blue galaxies, which have higher values of M _nc and M _bh. At the dependences we consider between the masses of the central objects and the parameters of the host galaxies (except for the dependence of M _bh on the central velocity dispersion), the red-group galaxies have systematically higher M _bh values, even when the host-galaxy parameters are similar. In contrast, in the case of nuclear star clusters, the blue and red galaxies form unified sequences. The results agree with scenarios in which most red-group galaxies form as a result of the partial or complete loss of interstellar gas in a stage of high nuclear activity in galaxies whose central black-hole masses exceed 10⁶?10⁷ M _⊙ (depending on the mass of the galaxy itself). The bulk of disk galaxies with M _bh > 10⁷ M _⊙ are lenticular galaxies (types S0, E/S0) whose disks are practically devoid of gas.     

The H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O supermaser region in Orion KL: Epoch 1982.9

Radio interferometric observations of an H₂O maser flare in the Orion Nebula at epoch 1982.9 have been used to determine the flare’s spatial structure. Antennas in the Crimea, Effelsberg, and Onsala were used. The emission region consists of three groups of components. The angular sizes of the components are 0.2–0.9 mas, and the widths of the emitted lines are 0.2–0.7 km/s. The velocities of the components are correlated with their relative positions, which correspond to expanding concentric rings. Assuming a 1 M_⊙ protostar in a Keplerian approximation, the radius of the inner ring R is 15 AU, the velocity of its rotation V_rot is 8.98 km/s, and the radial component of the velocity V_rad is 1.79 km/s. For the outer ring, R=15.7 AU, V_rot=8.79 km/s, and V_rad=2.61 km/s.     

Kinematic Groups in the Corona of the Ursa Majoris Flow Indicated by Gaia Data

The internal kinematics of the Ursa Majoris stellar flow is considered. The details of the flow structure are considered, and new candidate members are searched for using high-precision Gaia DR1 TGAS data. The flow structure is studied using apex diagrams, which have been shown to be effective in studies of open clusters. To select member-stars of the flow, a chain of filters was applied to the spatial coordinates and velocities, photometric data, and elemental abundances of potential members. The nonuniform kinematic structure of the flow, manifest through its separation into different velocity directions for the core and three groups in the corona, is confirmed. Several filters were used to identify three candidate members. These included apex diagrams, M_V?(B?V)₀ diagrams, and the abundances of Fe, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, and Ni.     

Detection of spectral variability of the optical component of the IR source IRAS 20508+2011

Our high-resolution spectral observations have revealed variability of the optical spectrum of the cool star identified with the IR source IRAS 20508+2011. We measured the equivalent widths of numerous absorption lines of neutral atoms and ions at wavelengths 4300–7930 Å, along with the corresponding radial velocities. Over the four years of our observations, the radial velocity derived from photospheric absorption lines varied in the interval V _r⊙ = 15–30 km/s. In the same period, the Hα profile varied from being an intense bell-shaped emission line with a small amount of core absorption to displaying two-peaked emission with a central absorption feature below the continuum level. At all but one epoch, the positions of the metallic photospheric lines were systematically shifted relative to the Hα emission: ΔV _r = V _r(met) ? V _r(Hα, emis) ≈ ?23 km/s. The Na D doublet displayed a complex profile with broad (half-width ≈ 120 km/s) emission and photospheric absorption, as well as an interstellar component. We used model atmospheres to determine the physical parameters and chemical composition of the star’s atmosphere: T _eff = 4800 K, log g = 1.5, ξ_t = 4.0 km/s. The metallicity of the star differs little from the solar value: [Fe/H]_⊙ = ?0.36. We detected overabundances of oxygen [O/Fe]_⊙ = +1.79 (with the ratio [C/O] ≈ ?0.9), and α-process elements, as well as a deficit of heavy metals. The entire set of the star’s parameters suggests that the optical component of IRAS 20508+2011 is an “O-rich” AGB star with luminosity M _v ≈ ?3^m that is close to its evolutionary transition to the post-AGB stage.     

Galactic parameters derived from open-cluster data

The components U₀ and V₀ of the solar motion and the Oort constant A₀ are determined using the data of a homogeneous open-cluster catalog with corrected distance moduli. The results are based on a sample of 146 open clusters with known radial velocities located in the Galactic plane (b<7°) within 4 kpc of the Sun. The solar Galactocentric distance R₀ is determined using two kinematic methods. The following results are obtained: A₀=17.0±0.9 km/s kpc, U₀=10.5±1.0 km/s, V₀=11.5±1.1 km/s, R₀=8.3±0.3 pc.     

Formation of supermassive black holes due to the tidal deceleration of stellar black holes, globular clusters, and galaxies

The formation and evolution of supermassive (10²?10¹⁰ M _⊙) black holes (SMBHs) in the dense cores of globular clusters and galaxies is investigated. The raw material for the construction of the SMBHs is stellar black holes produced during the evolution of massive (25?150M _⊙) stars. The first SMBHs, with masses of ～1000M _⊙, arise in the centers of the densest and most massive globular clusters. Current scenarios for the formation of SMBHs in the cores of globular clusters are analyzed. The dynamical deceleration of the most massive and slowly moving stellar-mass (< 100M _⊙) black holes, accompanied by the radiation of gravitational waves in late stages, is a probable scenario for the formation of SMBHs in the most massive and densest globular clusters. The dynamical friction of the most massive globular clusters close to the dense cores of their galaxies, with the formation of close binary black holes due to the radiation of gravitational waves, leads to the formation of SMBHs with masses ? 10³ M _⊙ in these regions. The stars of these galaxies form galactic bulges, providing a possible explanation for the correlation between the masses of the bulge and of the central SMBHs. The deceleration of the most massive galaxies in the central regions of the most massive and dense clusters of galaxies could lead to the appearance of the most massive (to 10¹⁰ M _⊙) SMBHs in the cores of cD galaxies. A side product of this cascade scenario for the formation of massive galaxies with SMBHs in their cores is the appearance of stars with high spatial velocities (> 300 km/s). The velocities of neutron stars and stellar-mass black holes can reach ～10⁵ km/s.     

Theoretical Prediction of Gibbs Free Energies of Formation for Crystalline α-MOOH and α-M2O3 Based on a Linear Free-Energy Relationship

In the present study, the modified Sverjensky–Molling equation, derived from a linear-free energy relationship, is used to predict the Gibbs free energies of formation of crystalline phases of α-MOOH (with a goethite structure) and α-M2O3 (with a hematite structure) from the known thermodynamic properties of the corresponding aqueous trivalent cations (M3+). The modified equation is expressed as ΔG0f,MVX=aMVXΔG0n,M3++bMVX+βMVXγM3+, where the coefficients aMVX, bMVX, and βMVX characterize a particular structural family of MvX (M is a trivalent cation [M3+] and X represents the remainder of the composition of solid); γ3+ is the ionic radius of trivalent cations (M3+); ΔG0f,MVX is the standard Gibbs free energy of formation of MvX; and ΔG0n,M3+ is the non-solvation energy of trivalent cations (M3+). By fitting the equation to the known experimental thermodynamic data, the coefficients for the goethite family (α-MOOH) are aMVX=0.8838, bMVX=?424.4431 (kcal/mol), and βMVX=115 (kcal/mol.?), while the coefficients for the hematite family (α-M2O3) are aMVX=1.7468, bMVX=?814.9573 (kcal/mol), and βMVX=278 (kcal/mol.?). The constrained relationship can be used to predict the standard Gibbs free energies of formation of crystalline phases and fictive phases (i.e. phases that are thermodynamically unstable and do not occur at standard conditions) within the isostructural families of goethite (α-MOOH) and hematite (α-M2O3) if the standard Gibbs free energies of formation of the trivalent cations are known.     

Magnetic order in crocidolite asbestos

Magnetic properties of two samples of crocidolite (blue asbestos) have been examined using susceptibility and magnetization measurements, neutron diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both samples order magnetically at 30±1 K with a structure in which iron ions in the ribbons parallel to c are all coupled ferromagnetically but the moments of adjacent ribbons are oppositely aligned. The iron moments are oriented at angles of about 69°, 36°, 69° with the a, b, c axes, respectively. A spin flop transition of the antiferromagnetically coupled ribbons occurs in an applied field of 15 kOe at 4.2 K, and a ratio of intraribbon to interribbon exchange interactions of about 10 is inferred. Mössbauer spectra at 4.2 K are decomposed into a ferric pattern with a hyperfine field of 550 kOe, associated with M2 sites, and two ferrous patterns with hyperfine fields of 200 and 100 kOe, associated with M1 and M3 sites, respectively. Each ferrous hyperfine field is oriented perpendicular to V _zz , the principal component of the electric field gradient, which is negative for both sites: V _zz =?2.65 mm/s, η=0.1 for M1 and V _zz =?2.9 mm/s, η=0.3 for M3. As in sheet silicates, the field gradients suggest pseudo-trigonal distortions of the ferrous sites symmetry, which stabilize ⁵ A _1g orbital singlet states.     

Supermassive black holes: Relation to dark halos

Estimates of the masses of supermassive black holes (M _bh ) in the nuclei of disk galaxies with known rotation curves are compared with estimates of the rotational velocities V _m and the “indicative” masses of the galaxies M _i . Although there is a correlation between M _bh and V _m or M _i , it is appreciably weaker than the correlation with the central velocity dispersion. The values of M _bh for early-type galaxies (S0-Sab), which have more massive bulges, are, on average, higher than the values for late-type galaxies with the same rotational velocities. We conclude that the black-hole masses are determined primarily by the properties of the bulge and not the rotational velocity or the mass of the galaxy.     

PN G068.1+11.0: A young pre-cataclysmic variable with an extremely hot primary

An analysis of spectroscopic and photometric data for the young pre-cataclysmic variable (PCV) PN G068.1+11.0, which passed through its common-envelope stage relatively recently, is presented. The spectroscopic and photometric data were obtained with the 6-m telescope and Zeiss-1000 telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The light curves show sinusoidal brightness variations with the orbital-period time scale and brightness-variation amplitudes of Δm = 1_.^m41, 1_.^m62, and 1_.^m57 in the B, V, and R bands, respectively. The system’s spectrum exhibits weak HI (Hβ–Hδ) andHeII λλ4541, 4686, 5411 Å absorption lines during the phases of minimum brightness, as well as HI, HeII, CIII, CIV, NIII, and OII emission lines whose intensity variations are synchronized with variations of the integrated brightness of the system. The emission-line formation in the spectra can be fully explained by the effects of fluorescence of the ultraviolet light from the primary at the surface of the cool star. All the characteristics of the optical light of PN G068.1+11.0 confirm that it is a young PCV containing sdO subdwarf. The radial velocities were measured from a blend of lines of moderately light elements, CIII+NIII λ4640 Å, which is formed at the surface of the secondary due to reflection effects. The ephemeris of the system has been improved through a joint analysis of the radial-velocity curves and light curves of pre-cataclysmic variable, using modelling of the reflection effects. The fundamental parameters of PN G068.1+11.0 have been determined using two evolutionary tracks for planetary-nebula nuclei of different masses (0.7 M_⊙and 0.78M_⊙). The model spectra for the system and a comparison with the observations demonstrate the possibility of refining the components’ effective temperatures if the quality of the spectra used is improved.     

Apsidal motion and the third-body problem in the binary HS Her

Our analysis of a 22-year uniform series of photoelectric U BV measurements of HS Her, started in 1969–1983 by D.Ya. Martynov and completed by us in 1984–1991, enabled us to determine new times of minima and revise some times of minima published earlier. Combined with other published data, this information can be used to improve the system’s apsidal elements: U _obs = (89.7 ± 5.1) years and log-k ₂ ^obs = ?2.33(4), testifying to a somewhat stronger concentration of matter towards the center than is predicted by current models for main-sequence stars (log -k ₂ ^th = ?2.21). This provides additional evidence that the system’s secondary is at the pre-main-sequence stage of evolution, as we suggested earlier based on our analysis of the system’s photometric elements. We confirm the presence of a third body in the system in a long-period eccentric orbit, as was first suggested in 2002 by Wolf et al. However, in contrast to the results of that paper, we demonstrate that the currently available observational data are insufficient to reliably determine this orbit’s parameters. We estimate the mass of the third body to be M ₃ = (1.0?2.0)M _⊙ for M ₁ = 5M _⊙ and M ₂ = 1.6 M _⊙.     

A possible relation between the masses of black holes in galactic nuclei and the parameters of the host galaxies

Data on about forty virialized galaxy clusters with bright central galaxies, for which both the galactic velocity dispersion (?? _gal) and the stellar velocity dispersion in the brightest galaxies (??*) are measured, have been used to obtain several approximate relations between ?? _gal, ??*, the absolute B magnitude of the brightest central galaxyM _B ^BCG , and the mass of the central massive black holeM _BH: $\begin{gathered} \log \sigma _* = (0.12 \pm 0.14)\log \sigma _{gal} + (2.1 \pm 0.4), \hfill \\ \log \sigma _* = - (0.15 \pm 0.02)M_B^{BCG} + (0.85 \pm 0.5), \hfill \\ \log M_{BH} = 0.51\log \sigma _{gal} + 7.28. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $ . These relations can be used to derive crude estimates ofMBH in the nuclei of the brightest galaxies using the parameters of the both host galaxies and the host galaxy clusters. The last relation above confirms earlier suggestions of a quadratic relation between the masses of the coronas of the host systems and the masses their central objects: M _hg ^halo ?? M _cent ² . The relations obtained are consistent with the common evolution of subsystems with different scales and masses formed in the process of hierarchical clustering.     

Peculiarities and variations in the optical spectrum of the post-AGB star V448 Lac = IRAS 22223+4327

Multi-epoch observations with high spectral resolution acquired in 1998–2008 are used to study the time behavior of the spectral-line profiles and velocity fields in the atmosphere and circumstellar shell of the post-AGB star V448 Lac. Asymmetry of the profiles of the strongest absorption lines with lower-level excitation potentials χ _low < 1 eV and time variations of these profiles have been detected, most prominently the profiles of the resonance lines of BaII, YII, LaII, SiII. The peculiarities of these profiles can be explained using a superposition of stellar absorption line and shell emission lines. Emission in the (0; 1) 5635 Å Swan system band of the C₂ molecule has been detected in the spectrum of V448 Lac for the first time. The core of the Hα line displays radial-velocity variations with an amplitude of ΔV _r ≈ 8 km/s. Radial-velocity variations displayed by weak metallic lines with lower amplitudes, ΔV _r ≈ 1–2 km/s, may be due to atmospheric pulsations. Differential line shifts, ΔV _r = 0–8 km/s have been detected on various dates. The position of the molecular spectrum is stationary in time, indicating a constant expansion velocity of the circumstellar shell, V _exp = 15.2 km/s, as derived from the C₂ and NaI lines.     

IR photometry and models for the dust envelopes of two carbon stars

The results of JHKLM photometry of two carbon stars are presented: the irregular variable NQ Cas and the Mira star BD Vul. Data on the mean fluxes supplemented with mid-IR observations with the IRAS, AKARI, andWISE satellites are used to compute spherically symmetrical model dust envelopes for the stars, consisting of particles of amorphous carbon and silicon carbide. The optical depth in the visible for the comparatively cool dust envelope of BD Vul, with a dust temperature at its inner boundary T₁ = 610 K, is fairly low: τ_V = 0.13. The dust envelope of NQ Cas is appreciably hotter (T₁ = 1550 K), and has τ_V = 0.32. The estimated mass-loss rates are 1.5 × 10^?7M_⊙/yr for NQ Cas and 5.9 × 10^?7M_⊙/yr for BD Vul.     

Kinematics of the envelope of the post-AGB star V510 Pup—Nucleus of a future planetary nebula

We have carried out a detailed identification of lines in the optical spectrum of the post-AGB star V510 Pup associated with the infrared source IRAS 08005-2356 based on observations with high spectral resolution. Absorption lines of the ions FeII, TiII, CrII, and YII are present at wavelengths from 4549 to 8546 Å. The absorption by YII and other s-process elements is anomalously strong, and the absorption is also strong in the circumstellar C₂ Swan bands. The profiles of most of the lines (of hydrogen and metals) display P Cygni absorption-emission profiles. All the absorption lines are shifted toward the blue, suggesting an outflow of stellar material. The expansion velocity of the envelope derived from the Swan bands arising there is V _exp =42 km/s. The highest wind velocity determined from the absorption wings of the FeII(42) P Cygni profiles reaches 240 km/s. Based on the star’s kinematic characteristics and the amount of interstellar absorption, it is at a distance of d≈3?4 kpc, which corresponds to an absolute magnitude of M_v≈?6^m.     

Proper motions of open star clusters and the rotation rate of the galaxy

The mean proper motions of 167 Galactic open clusters with radial-velocity measurements are computed from the data of the Tycho-2 catalog using kinematic and photometric cluster membership criteria. The resulting catalog is compared to the results of other studies. The new proper motions are used to infer the Galactic rotation rate at the solar circle, which is found to be ω₀=+24.6±0.8 km s^?1 kpc^?1. Analysis of the dependence of the dispersion of ω₀ estimates on heliocentric velocity showed that even the proper motions of clusters with distances r>3 kpc contain enough useful information to be used in kinematic studies demonstrating that the determination of proper motions is quite justified even for very distant clusters.     

Estimation of the accuracy of methods for determining component masses for low-mass X-ray binary systems

Modern modeling of the population of low-mass X-ray binary systems containing black holes applying standard assumptions leads to a lack of agreement between the modeled and observed mass distributions for the optical components, with the observed masses being lower. This makes the task of estimating the systematic errors in the derived component masses due to imperfect models relevant. To estimate the influence of systematic errors in the derived masses of stars in X-ray binary systems, we considered two approximations for the tidally deformed star in a Roche model. Approximating the star as a sphere with a volume equal to that of the Roche lobe leads to slight overestimation of the equatorial rotational velocity V _rot sin i, and hence to slight underestimation of the mass ratio q = M _x /M _v . Approximating the star as a flat, circular disk with constant local line profiles and a linear limb-darkening law (a classical rotational broadeningmodel) is an appreciably cruder approach, and leads to overestimation of V _rot sin i by about 20%. In the case of high values of q = M _x /M _v , this approximation leads to substantial underestimation of the mass ratio q, which can reach several tens of percent. The mass of the optical star is overestimated by a factor of 1.5 in this case, while the mass of the black hole is changed only slightly. Since most estimates of component mass ratios for X-ray binary systems are carried out using a classical rotational broadening model for the lines, this leads to the need for appreciable corrections to (reductions of) previously published masses for the optical stars, which enhances the contradiction with the standard evolutionary scenario for low-mass X-ray binaries containing black holes.     

Globular cluster subsystems in the galaxy

Data from the literature are used to construct a homogeneous catalog of fundamental astrophysical parameters for 145 globular clusters of the Milky Way Galaxy. The catalog is used to analyze the relationships between chemical composition, horizontal-branch morphology, spatial location, orbital elements, age, and other physical parameters of the clusters. The overall globular-cluster population is divided by a gap in the metallicity function at [Fe/H]=?1.0 into two discrete groups with well-defined maxima at [Fe/H]=?1.60±0.03 and ?0.60±0.04. The mean spatial-kinematic parameters and their dispersions change abruptly when the metallicity crosses this boundary. Metal-poor clusters occupy a more or less spherical region and are concentrated toward the Galactic center. Metal-rich clusters (the thick disk subsystem), which are far fewer in number, are concentrated toward both the Galactic center and the Galactic plane. This subsystem rotates with an average velocity of V _rot=165±28 km/s and has a very steep negative vertical metallicity gradient and a negligible radial gradient. It is, on average, the youngest group, and consists exclusively of clusters with extremely red horizontal branches. The population of spherical-subsystem clusters is also inhomogeneous and, in turn, breaks up into at least two groups according to horizontal-branch morphology. Clusters with extremely blue horizontal branches occupy a spherical volume of radius ～9 kpc, have high rotational velocities (V _rot=77±33 km/s), have substantial and equal negative radial and vertical metallicity gradients, and are, on average, the oldest group (the old-halo subsystem). The vast majority of clusters with intermediate-type horizontal branches occupy a more or less spherical volume ≈18 kpc in radius, which is slightly flattened perpendicular to the Z direction and makes an angle of ≈30° to the X-axis. On average, this population is somewhat younger than the old-halo clusters (the young-halo subsystem), and exhibits approximately the same metallicity gradients as the old halo. As a result, since their Galactocentric distance and distance from the Galactic plane are the same, the young-halo clusters have metallicities that are, on average, Δ[Fe/H] ≈0.3 higher than those for old-halo clusters. The young-halo subsystem, which apparently consists of objects captured by the Galaxy at various times, contains many clusters with retrograde orbits, so that its rotational velocity is low and has large errors, V _rot=?23±54 km/s. Typical parameters are derived for all the subsystems, and the mean characteristics of their member globular clusters are determined. The thick disk has a different nature than both the old and young halos. A scenario for Galactic evolution is proposed based on the assumption that only the thick-disk and old-halo subsystems are genetically associated with the Galaxy. The age distributions of these two subsystems do not overlap. It is argued that heavy-element enrichment and the collapse of the proto-Galactic medium occurred mainly in the period between the formation of the old-halo and thick-disk subsystems.