On the relationship between galaxy formation and quasar evolution

Citation
A. Franceschini et al., On the relationship between galaxy formation and quasar evolution, M NOT R AST, 310(1), 1999, pp. L5-L9
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
ISSN journal
00358711 → ACNP
Volume
310
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
L5 - L9
Database
ISI
SICI code
0035-8711(1999)310:1<L5:OTRBGF>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
We compare the evolution with cosmic time of the star formation rate per co moving volume in galaxies and of the volume emissivity due to active galact ic nuclei, in an attempt to understand the relationship between black hole accretion and the formation of the surrounding structure. We find an intere sting similarity between the evolution rates for the total populations of g alaxies and AGN, which indicates that, on average, the history of black hol e accretion follows that of stellar formation in the host galaxies. Similar ly, the evolution of luminous quasars parallels that of the stellar populat ions in massive spheroidal galaxies, in keeping with the locally establishe d association of supermassive black holes and galactic bulges. We finally c omment on our finding that high-luminosity, high-mass systems evolve on a s horter cosmic time-scale than lower mass ones; to explain this, theories of structure formation based on the gravitational collapse of dark matter hal oes must be complemented with a detailed description of the dynamical proce sses in the baryonic component, which dominate the formation and evolution in high-density environments.