A mass estimate of an intermediate-mass black hole in omega Centauri

TL;DR

This study provides evidence supporting the existence of an intermediate-mass black hole in omega Centauri by modeling its stellar dynamics and fitting observational data, estimating the black hole's mass and the cluster's total mass.

Contribution

It introduces a self-consistent anisotropic spherical model incorporating the Bahcall-Wolf distribution to estimate the IMBH mass in omega Centauri independently.

Findings

IMBH mass ratio M_BH/M = 5.8(+0.9-1.2) x 10^(-3)

Cluster total mass estimated at (3.1 +/- 0.3) x 10^6 M_sun

IMBH mass range between 13,000 and 23,000 M_sun

Abstract

Context. The problem of the existence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) at the centre of globular clusters is a hot and controversial topic in current astrophysical research with important implications in stellar and galaxy formation. Aims. In this paper, we aim at giving further support to the presence of an IMBH in omega Centauri and at providing an independent estimate of its mass. Methods. We employed a self-consistent spherical model with anisotropic velocity distribution. It consists in a generalisation of the King model by including the Bahcall-Wolf distribution function in the IMBH vicinity. Results. By the parametric fitting of the model to recent HST/ACS data for the surface brightness profile, we found an IMBH to cluster total mass ratio of M_BH/M = 5.8(+0.9-1.2) x 10^(-3). It is also found that the model yields a fit of the line-of-sight velocity dispersion profile that is better without mass segregation than in the segregated case. This confirms the current thought of a non-relaxed status for this peculiar cluster. The best fit model to the kinematic data leads, moreover, to a cluster total mass estimate of M = (3.1 +/- 0.3) x 10^6 Msol, thus giving an IMBH mass in the range 13,000 < M_BH < 23,000 Msol (at 1-sigma confidence level). A slight degree of radial velocity anisotropy in the outer region (r > 12') is required to match the outer surface brightness profile.