[tt] the physics arXiv blog

[Eugen Leitl]

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From: the physics arXiv blog <howdy at arxivblog.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:56:22 -0500 (CDT)
To: eugen at leitl.org
Subject: the physics arXiv blog
Reply-To: the physics arXiv blog <howdy at arxivblog.com>


[1]the physics arXiv blog

   [2]How supermassive black holes help galaxies evolve

   Posted: 12 Sep 2008 12:58 AM CDT

   [3]black-hole-nasa.jpg 

   It's easy to imagine that our understanding of the way galaxies form
   and evolve is more or less complete. After all, we've been fitting
   missing pieces into the jigsaw at an alarming rate in recent years
   with all this data from WMAP etc about the structure of the early
   universe, a better understanding of the distribution of dark matter
   and the vast computer simulations that show how galaxies should appear
   out of this maelstrom.

   But there are one or two hairs in this astrophysical ointment. For
   example, our models of galaxy formation indicate that certain types of
   galaxies should become surrounded by huge clouds of gas in which stars
   ought to be forming. But observations show that there are far fewer of
   these types of galaxies than the models predict.

   Today, Timothy Heckman of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore
   discusses the idea that supermassive black holes at the center of
   these galaxies might explain the difference. The thinking is that
   black holes generate and spread enough energy to the outer reaches of
   the galaxy to regulate star formation in a way that fits with
   observations. We've certainly seen good evidence of supermassive black
   holes in various galaxies, including our own.

   But what makes Heckman's discussion highly provocative is the
   suggestions that a symbiotic relationship exists between galaxies and
   supermassive black holes, that they need each other to form. So
   supermassive black holes are as important in galactic evolution as
   gas, dust and gravity. What an idea!

   What that means is that far from being a done deal, galaxy formation
   is set to become one of the hottest topics in astronomy as data from
   the next generation of space telescopes comes flooding in.

   PS: Heckman has a great name for the study of gas-star-black hole
   cosmic ecosystems. He calls it gastrophysics. Like it!

   Ref: [4]arxiv.org/abs/0809.1101: The Co-Evolution of Galaxies and
   Black Holes: Current Status and Future Prospects

   [5][arXivblog?i=oyxqQ8] 
   [6][arXivblog?i=4ufDL] [7][arXivblog?i=lw0VL] [8][arXivblog?i=tBrHl]
   [9][arXivblog?i=QtvgL] [10][arXivblog?i=nuoxl] [11][arXivblog?i=x0jgL]
   [12][arXivblog?i=C3vPl] [13][arXivblog?i=RlBsL] 
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References

   1. http://arxivblog.com/
   2. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/arXivblog/~3/390376412/
   3. http://arxivblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/black-hole-nasa.jpg
   4. http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.1101
   5. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/arXivblog?a=oyxqQ8
   6. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=4ufDL
   7. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=lw0VL
   8. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=tBrHl
   9. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=QtvgL
  10. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=nuoxl
  11. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=x0jgL
  12. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=C3vPl
  13. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/arXivblog?a=RlBsL
  14. http://arxivblog.com/
  15. http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailunsub?id=8632699&key=kesJ612ZsV
  16. http://feeds.feedburner.com/arXivblog
  17. http://feeds.feedburner.com/arXivblog

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Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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