Detection of a $\sim$100,000 M${}_{\odot }$ black hole in M31's most massive globular cluster: A tidally stripped nucleus

Abstract

We investigate the presence of a central black hole (BH) in B023-G078, M31's most massive globular cluster. We present high-resolution, adaptive-optics assisted, integral-field spectroscopic kinematics from Gemini/NIFS that shows a strong rotation ($\sim$20 km/s) and a velocity dispersion rise towards the center (37 km/s). We combine the kinematic data with a mass model based on a two-component fit to $HST$ ACS/HRC data of the cluster to estimate the mass of a putative BH. Our dynamical modeling suggests a $>$3$\sigma$ detection of a BH component of 9.1${}_{-2.8}^{+2.6}\times$10${}^4$ M${}_{\odot }$ (1$\sigma$ uncertainties). The inferred stellar mass of the cluster is 6.22${}_{-0.05}^{+0.03}\times$10${}^6$ M${}_{\odot }$, consistent with previous estimates, thus the BH makes up 1.5% of its mass. We examine whether the observed kinematics are caused by a collection of stellar mass BHs by modeling an extended dark mass as a Plummer profile. The upper limit on the size scale of the extended mass is 0.56 pc (95% confidence), which does not rule out an extended mass. There is compelling evidence that B023-G078 is the tidally stripped nucleus of a galaxy with a stellar mass $>$10${}^9$ M${}_{\odot }$, including its high mass, two-component luminosity profile, color, metallicity gradient, and spread in metallicity. Given the emerging evidence that the central BH occupation fraction of $>$10${}^9$ M${}_{\odot }$ galaxies is high, the most plausible interpretation of the kinematic data is that B023-G078 hosts a central BH. This makes it the strongest BH detection in a lower mass ($<$10${}^7$ M${}_{\odot }$) stripped nucleus, and one of the few dynamically detected intermediate-mass BHs.

arXiv comment14 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in the AAS Journals

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