Lack of nuclear clusters in dwarf spheroidal galaxies: implications for massive black holes formation and the cusp/core problem

TL;DR

This study uses N-body simulations to explore why dwarf spheroidal galaxies like Fornax lack nuclear star clusters and massive black holes, suggesting that dense dark matter halos hinder cluster formation and may influence the cusp/core problem.

Contribution

The paper models the orbital decay of globular clusters in dwarf galaxies, revealing how dark matter halos affect nuclear cluster formation and galaxy density profiles.

Findings

High central galactic mass density hampers nuclear cluster formation.

GC infall may flatten galactic density profiles, addressing the cusp/core problem.

Absence of massive black holes linked to GC dynamics and galaxy structure.

Abstract

One of the leading scenarios for the formation of nuclear star clusters in galaxies is related to the orbital decay of globular clusters (GCs) and their subsequent merging, though alternative theories are currently debated. The availability of high-quality data for GCs structural and orbital parameters allow to test different nuclear star cluster formation scenarios. The Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy is the heaviest satellite of the Milky Way and it is the only known dwarf spheroidal hosting 5 GCs, whereas there are no clear signatures for the presence of a central massive black hole. For this reason, it represents a suited place to study the orbital decay process in dwarf galaxies. In this paper we model the future evolution of the Fornax GCs simulating them and the host galaxy by means of direct $N$-body simulations. Our simulations take in account also the gravitational field generated by the Milky Way. We found that if the Fornax galaxy is embedded in a standard Cold Dark Matter Halo, the nuclear cluster formation would be significantly hampered by the high central galactic mass density. In this context, we discuss the possibility that infalling GCs drive the flattening of the galactic density profile, giving a possible alternative explanation to the so-called cusp/core problem. Moreover, we briefly discuss the link between GC infall process and the absence of massive black holes in the centre of dSphs.