{
  "id": "astro-ph/9709106",
  "version": "v2",
  "published": "1997-09-11T15:23:02.000Z",
  "updated": "1997-11-28T16:23:52.000Z",
  "title": "Dynamical Evolution of Elliptical Galaxies with Central Singularities",
  "authors": [
    "David Merritt",
    "Gerald Quinlan"
  ],
  "comment": "27 Latex pages, 9 Postscript figures, uses aastex.sty. Accepted for Publication in The Astrophysical Journal, Nov. 26, 1997",
  "doi": "10.1086/305579",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph"
  ],
  "abstract": "We study the effect of a massive central singularity on the structure of a triaxial galaxy using N-body simulations. Starting from a single initial model, we grow black holes with various final masses Mh and at various rates, ranging from impulsive to adiabatic. In all cases, the galaxy achieves a final shape that is nearly spherical at the center and close to axisymmetric throughout. However, the rate of change of the galaxy's shape depends strongly on the ratio Mh/Mg of black hole mass to galaxy mass. When Mh/Mg < 0.3%, the galaxy evolves in shape on a timescale that exceeds 100 orbital periods, or roughly a galaxy lifetime. When Mh/Mg > 2%, the galaxy becomes axisymmetric in little more than a crossing time. We propose that the rapid evolution toward axisymmetric shapes that occurs when Mh/Mg > 2% provides a negative feedback mechanism which limits the mass of central black holes by cutting off their supply of fuel.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v2",
      "updated": "1997-11-28T16:23:52.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "elliptical galaxies",
      "dynamical evolution",
      "single initial model",
      "central black holes",
      "black hole mass"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "LaTeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "inspire": 462090
    }
  }
}