Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis
We have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early-type a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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2003
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| _version_ | 1797068398850473984 |
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| author | Kendall, P Magorrian, J Pringle, J |
| author_facet | Kendall, P Magorrian, J Pringle, J |
| author_sort | Kendall, P |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | We have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early-type active galaxies), the initial orbit of the satellite is required to be well aimed. For the case of the host galaxy being a disc galaxy, if the initial orbits of the satellites are randomly oriented with respect to the host galaxy, then the orbits of those which reach the host nuclear regions in a reasonable time are also fairly randomly oriented once they reach the nucleus. We note that this result might be able to provide an explanation of why the jet directions in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies are apparently unrelated to the plane of the galaxy discs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:10:13Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:518da336-4325-484d-9443-ebc2a2cd4ecb |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T22:10:13Z |
| publishDate | 2003 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:518da336-4325-484d-9443-ebc2a2cd4ecb2022-03-26T16:20:12ZActive galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesisJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:518da336-4325-484d-9443-ebc2a2cd4ecbEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2003Kendall, PMagorrian, JPringle, JWe have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early-type active galaxies), the initial orbit of the satellite is required to be well aimed. For the case of the host galaxy being a disc galaxy, if the initial orbits of the satellites are randomly oriented with respect to the host galaxy, then the orbits of those which reach the host nuclear regions in a reasonable time are also fairly randomly oriented once they reach the nucleus. We note that this result might be able to provide an explanation of why the jet directions in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies are apparently unrelated to the plane of the galaxy discs. |
| spellingShingle | Kendall, P Magorrian, J Pringle, J Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title | Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title_full | Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title_fullStr | Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title_short | Active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| title_sort | active galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kendallp activegalacticnucleiandtheminormergerhypothesis AT magorrianj activegalacticnucleiandtheminormergerhypothesis AT pringlej activegalacticnucleiandtheminormergerhypothesis |