The evolution of the central black hole in an active galactic nucleus. I - Evolution with a constant mass influx

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (27) References (18) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Evolution of the Central Black Hole in an Active Galactic Nucleus. I. Evolution with a Constant Mass Influx Park, Seok Jae ; Vishniac, Ethan T. Abstract We have analyzed the long-term evolution of the central black hole in an active galactic nucleus (AGN), whose rotational energy is being extracted by the Blandford-Znajek process. Our model is based on previous axisymmetric, stationary descriptions of the black hole and its magnetosphere, but includes the secular effects of the mass accretion rate M^dot^_+_. The properties of the black hole and the nonthermal radiation from its environment are calculated under the assumption that the mass influx is constant. We note that this model fails to explain the correlation of evolutionary time scale with luminosity or the extremely rapid evolution required for the most luminous sources. We conclude that the evolution of AGNs is driven by a rapid decrease in M^dot^_+_. Since the nature of an AGN is dependent on the ratio M^dot^_+_/M this leads us to conclude that AGNs evolve from QSOs into the nuclei of Seyfert or radio galaxies. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166638 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...332..135P Keywords: Active Galactic Nuclei; Black Holes (Astronomy); Quasars; Radio Galaxies; Seyfert Galaxies; Eddington Approximation; Interstellar Magnetic Fields; Astrophysics; BLACK HOLES; GALAXIES: NUCLEI; RADIATION MECHANISMS full text sources ADS |