Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Abstract

The masses of supermassive black holes (SBHs) show correlations with bulge properties in disk and elliptical galaxies. We study the formation of galactic structure within flat-core, mildly triaxial halos and show that these correlations can be understood within the framework of a baryonic component modifying the orbital structure in the underlying potential. In particular, we find that terminal properties of bulges and their central SBHs are constrained by the destruction of box orbits in the harmonic cores of dark halos and the emergence of progressively less eccentric loop orbits there. SBH masses, M •, should exhibit a tighter correlation with bulge velocity dispersions, σB, than with bulge masses, MB, in accord with observations, if there is a significant scatter in the M H-σH relation for the halo. In the context of this model the observed M•-σ-B relation implies that halos should exhibit a Faber-Jackson type relationship between their masses and velocity dispersions. The most important prediction of our model is that halo properties determine the bulge and SBH parameters. The model also has important implications for galactic morphology and the process of disk formation.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Astrophysical Journal

First Page

641

Last Page

653

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