On the Interpretation of the l-v Features in the Milky Way Galaxy

We model the gas dynamics of barred galaxies using a three-dimensional, high-resolution, $N$-body+hydrodynamical simulation and apply it to the Milky Way in an attempt to reproduce both the large-scale structure and the clumpy morphology observed in Galactic H\emissiontype{I} and CO $l-v$ diagrams. Owing to including the multi-phase interstellar medium, self-gravity, star-formation and supernovae feedback, the clumpy morphology, as well as the large-scale features, in observed $l-v$ diagrams are naturally reproduced. We identify in our $l-v$ diagrams with a number of not only large-scale peculiar features such as the '3-kpc arm', '135-km s$^{-1}$ arm' and 'Connecting arm' but also clumpy features such as `Bania clumps', and then link these features in a face-on view of our model. We give suggestions on the real structure of the Milky Way and on the fate of gas clumps in the central region.Comment: accepted to PAS

Growth of Intermediate Massive Black Holes in the Hierarchical Formation of Small Spiral Galaxies in the High-z Universe

Combining a theoretical model of mass accretion onto a galactic center with a high-resolution $N$-body/SPH simulation, we investigate the formation of an intermediate massive black hole (IMBH) during the hierarchical formation of a small spiral galaxy (with a total mass of $10^{10}M_{\odot}$) in the high-$z$ universe. We found that the rate of average mass accretion to the nucleus due to the radiation drag exerted by newly formed stars in the forming galaxy is $\approx 10^{-5}M_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. As a result of this accretion, an IMBH with $\approx 10^{4}M_{\odot}$ can be formed in the center of the spiral galaxy at $z\sim 4$. We found that a central BH coevolves with the dark matter halo from $z\sim 15$ to $z\sim 2$. The mass ratio of the BH to the dark matter halo is nearly constant $\approx (1-3) \times 10^{-6}$ from $z\sim 10$ to $z\sim 2$. This is because that change in the dark matter potential enhances star formation in the central part of the galaxy, and as a result the BH evolves due to mass accretion via the radiation drag. Therefore, our model naturally predicts a correlation between massive BHs and dark matter halos. Moreover, it is found that the final BH-to-bulge mass ratio ($\approx 5\times 10^{-5}$) in a small spiral galaxy at high-$z$ is much smaller than that in the large galaxies ($\approx 10^{-3}$). Our results also suggest that the scatter in the observed scaling relations between the bulge mass and black hole mass are caused by a time lag between BH growth and growth of bulge. We also predict that the X-ray luminosity of AGN is positively correlated with the CO luminosity in the central region. By comparing our results with the properties of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs), it is predicted that some LBGs have massive BHs of $\approx 10^{6}-10^{7}M_{\odot}$.Comment: 8pages, 7figures, accepted for publication in ApJ (Volume 628, 20 July 2005 issue

Nuclear Star-Forming Ring of the Milky Way: Simulations

We present hydrodynamic simulations of gas clouds in the central kpc region of the Milky Way that is modeled with a three-dimensional bar potential. Our simulations consider realistic gas cooling and heating, star Formation, and supernova feedback. A ring of dense gas clouds forms as a result of X-1-X-2 orbit transfer, and our potential model results in a ring radius of similar to 200 pc, which coincides with the extraordinary reservoir of dense molecular clouds in the inner bulge, the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). The gas clouds accumulated in the CMZ can reach high enough densities to form stars, and with an appropriate choice of simulation parameters, we successfully reproduce the observed gas mass and the star Formation rate (SFR) in the CMZ, similar to 2 x 10(7) M-circle dot and similar to 0.1 M-circle dot yr(-1). Star Formation in our simulations takes place mostly in the outermost X-2 orbits, and the SFR per unit surface area outside the CMZ is much lower. These facts suggest that the inner Galactic bulge may harbor a mild version of the nuclear star-forming rings seen in some external disk galaxies. Furthermore, from the relatively small size of the Milky Way's nuclear bulge, which is thought to be a result of sustained star Formation in the CMZ, we infer that the Galactic inner bulge probably had a shallower density profile or stronger bar elongation in the past.Korea Research Foundation KRF-2008-013-C00037MEST of Korea R31-1001NASA NNG 05-GC37G, NNX 10-AF84GNYSTAR Faculty Development ProgramAstronom

Effects of a Supermassive Black Hole Binary on a Nuclear Gas Disk

We study influence of a galactic central supermassive black hole (SMBH) binary on gas dynamics and star formation activity in a nuclear gas disk by making three-dimensional Tree+SPH simulations. Due to orbital motions of SMBHs, there are various resonances between gas motion and the SMBH binary motion. We have shown that these resonances create some characteristic structures of gas in the nuclear gas disk, for examples, gas elongated or filament structures, formation of gaseous spiral arms, and small gas disks around SMBHs. In these gaseous dense regions, active star formations are induced. As the result, many star burst regions are formed in the nuclear region.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Ap