Can Galactic Nuclei Activity be Explained by Globular Cluster Mass Accretion?

Abstract

Globular clusters can decay to the center of their mother galaxy carrying a quantity of mass sufficient to sustain the gravitational activity of a small pre-existing nucleus and to accrete it in a significant way. The AGN luminosity and lifetime depend on the characteristics of the globular cluster system and it is quite insensitive to the nucleus' initial mass.

4 pages + 1 postscript figure; presented at the Workshop "From Micro- to Mega-Parsec" (Riccione, oct. 7-10, 1996)