14 DAY TRIAL // The mass a supermassive black hole at the center of a large galaxy has appears to be related to the number of globular cluster that particular galaxy contains, a new report suggests.
The data has been derived from a new investigation of the stars, which indicates that the two are somehow linked. The exact mechanisms underlying this connection are still unclear.
There are many such correlations in astronomy, experts say, even if some are arguably clearer than others. Given that the new connection was observed in several cases, scientists will continue to analyze it until they get to the bottom of it.
One interesting aspect of the new discovery is that it holds more value for some galaxies than for others. Astronomers say that finding out precisely why this happens is yet another mystery that needs solving.
In past studies, astrophysicists demonstrated that supermassive black holes exert numerous influences on their host galaxies, including regulating their growth.
In addition, these SMBH can also influence the total amount of dark matter massive galaxies contain, change the brightness of the bulges spiral galaxies have, and influence the masses of these bulges.
But astronomers also know that the luminosity of a galaxy and the amount of dark matter its halo contains are also influenced by the number of globular clusters the cosmic structure contains.
Researchers wanted to learn whether they could eliminate the intermediaries, and still maintain a direct correlation, between the SMBH and the number of clusters.
According to team leaders Andreas Burkert of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, in Germany, and Scott Tremaine, at the Princeton University, this is entirely possible.
The discovery hints at a previously-unknown regulation mechanism. It was confirmed in 13 different instances, the research team says.
Details of the investigation will be published in an upcoming issue of the esteemed scientific journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The journal entry also features a follow-up on the original study, which includes case studies of 33 galaxies. Even with these increased number of instances, the correlation holds true.
Interestingly, it was found that the connection is especially true for elliptical galaxies. For lenticular galaxies, the team failed to uncover any correlation.
No reasons as to why that happens have yet been discovered, Universe Today reports.