Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei

Author: Young, Peter John

Year: 1979

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Sargent, Wallace L. W.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Astronomy

DOI: 10.7907/mcgd-jp70

Abstract

The existence of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei is investigated both theoretically and observationally. In addition the dynamics of flattened elliptical galaxies is examined observationally. Part I of the thesis deals with the theoretical distribution of a stellar population around a massive black hole in a galactic nucleus. Part II calculates the luminous energy output such a black hole could achieve by wreaking carnage among the stars in that nucleus. Part III is a photometric study of the radio galaxy M87 and concludes that this galaxy harbours some sort of massive object, if not a black hole. Part IV is a dynamical stud of the same galaxy M87 via spectroscopic measurements of the velocity dispersion as a function of radius. It comes to the same conclusion as in Part III. Part V is a study of the dynamics of the E5 galaxy NGC 4473 which is found to exhibit scant rotation.

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