M33: A galaxy with no supermassive black hole

Citation
K. Gebhardt et al., M33: A galaxy with no supermassive black hole, ASTRONOM J, 122(5), 2001, pp. 2469-2476
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
00046256 → ACNP
Volume
122
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
2469 - 2476
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6256(200111)122:5<2469:MAGWNS>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Galaxies that contain bulges appear to contain central black holes whose ma sses correlate with the velocity dispersion of the bulge. We show that no c orresponding relationship applies in the pure disk galaxy M33. Three-integr al dynamical models fit Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 photometry and Space T elescope Imaging Spectrograph spectroscopy best if the central black hole m ass is zero. The upper limit is 1500 M.. This is significantly below the ma ss expected from the velocity dispersion of the nucleus and far below any m ass predicted from the disk kinematics. Our results suggest that supermassi ve black holes are associated only with galaxy bulges and not with their di sks.