The "Dark-Matter Dominated" Galaxy Segue 1 Modeled with a Black Hole and no Dark Halo

TL;DR

This study models the dwarf galaxy Segue 1 with a central black hole and no dark halo, finding that a black hole significantly influences its dynamics and structure, challenging the dark matter dominance assumption.

Contribution

It introduces orbit-based dynamical models of Segue 1 that include a black hole without requiring a dark halo, providing new insights into its mass distribution and orbital structure.

Findings

Black hole mass estimated at $4 imes 10^5 M_\odot$

Models with black hole fit better than dark halo models

Segue 1 shows significant central rotation

Abstract

The dwarf spheroidal galaxy, Segue 1, is thought to have one of the largest ratios of dark matter to stellar mass. Using orbit-based dynamical models, we model Segue 1, including a dark halo and a central black hole. The best-fit model requires a black hole mass of $4 \pm 1.5 \times 10^5\ M_\odot$. The value of the black hole mass is the same with or without a dark halo. The mass-to-light ratio of the stars is poorly constrained by the dynamical modeling, reflecting that Segue 1 is dominated by mass other than stars. Dynamical models that exclude a black hole provide a worse fit and require a dark halo with very small scale radii of around 100 parsecs. Additionally, the zero black hole models require a stellar orbital distribution that is highly radially biased. The model with a black hole provides an orbital structure that is close to isotropic, more similar to other well-studied systems. We argue that the two-parameter models of stars and black hole provide a better description of Segue 1 than the three-parameter models of stars and two dark halo components. Additional support for a central black hole comes from a significant increase in the central rotation. Using individual velocities, we measure a rotation amplitude of $9.0 \pm 2.4\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. Segue 1 is likely being tidally stripped at large radii, and we might be witnessing the remnant nucleus of a more massive system. Alternatively, given the high black hole mass relative to the stellar mass, Segue 1 is analogous to Little Red Dots seen in the early Universe.