Elliptical galaxy nuclei activity powered by infalling globular clusters

Abstract

Globular cluster systems evolve, in galaxies, due to internal and external dynamics and tidal phenomena. One of the causes of evolution, dynamical friction, is responsible for the orbital decay of massive clusters into the innermost galactic regions. It is found that these clusters are effective source of matter to feed a central galactic black hole such to make it grow and shine as an AGN.

8 pages, 2 eps figures, in press in the Proc. of the Meeting Baryons in Cosmic Structures, Monte Porzio (Italy), oct. 20-21 2003, ASP Conf. Ser., eds. E. Giallongo, G. De Zotti, N. Menci

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