Dynamical modelling of globular clusters: challenges for the robust determination of IMBH candidates
Abstract
The presence or absence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) at the centre of Milky Way globular clusters (GCs) is still an open question. This is due to either observational restrictions or limitations in the dynamical modelling method; in this work, we explore the latter. Using a sample of high-end Monte Carlo simulations of GCs, with and without a central IMBH, we study the limitations of spherically symmetric Jeans models assuming constant velocity anisotropy and mass-to-light ratio. This dynamical method is one of the most widely used modelling approaches to identify a central IMBH in observations.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/staa2821
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2009.07275
- Bibcode:
- 2020MNRAS.499.4646A
- Keywords:
-
- stars: kinematics and dynamics;
- globular clusters: general;
- stars: black holes;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 21 pages, 20 figures. The main results can be seen in figures 9 and 10. Figures 4, 14 and A2 bring interesting points for discussion