Published July 1, 1977 | Version v1
Journal article

Black tide model of QSOs. II. Destruction in an isothermal sphere

Creators

  • 1. Robinson Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

Description

The quasar models employing a black hole in a galactic nucleus are considered; it is shown that the black hole may be able to destroy the stellar population of the galactic nucleus in sufficient numbers to provide a power source for QSO, Seyfert nucleus, and radio galaxy phenomena.The basic model is of a black hole embedded in an isothermal sphere. When the mass of the hole M/sub H/9 or approx. =106M/sub sun/it grows mainly by tidally disrupting stars which stray within its Roche limit. This source of gaseous debris for the hole to accrete is cut off due to falling stellar densities outside the galactic nucleus coupled with insufficiently fast relaxation of the stellar population into low angular momentum orbits; luminosities above 109L/sub sun/are not possible. However, when M/sub H/9 or approx. =106M/sub sun/a high-density cusp of stars bound to the black hole generates gaseous debris from stellar collisions and gravitational diffusion processes and allows sufficient fuel to boost the power output of the black hole to > or approx. =1012L/sub sun/in superdense galactic nuclei. This is cut off as the hole consumes the nucleus and lengthening relaxation times freeze the quasar into oblivion. This decay occurs only slowly with Lproportionalt/sup -1/2/

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
The Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
215
Journal Issue
1
Series
Astrophys. J.
Journal Page Range
36
ISSN
0004-637X

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
9351100
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
BLACK HOLES; COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES; QUASARS; RADIO GALAXIES; ROCHE EQUIPOTENTIALS; SEYFERT GALAXIES; STAR CLUSTERS; STAR EVOLUTION; STAR MODELS
Descriptors DEC
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES; COSMIC RAY SOURCES; GALAXIES; MATHEMATICAL MODELS

Optional Information

Notes
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