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[15.13U] Investigation of an Intermediate Mass Black Hole in the Starburst Galaxy M82

E. Wan, N. K. Mesta, J. W. Keohane, C. M. Olbert, C. R. Clearfield (NCSSM)

We used public data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, analyzing both the spectral and positional characteristics of nine of the most luminous sources in the close-by starburst galaxy M82. In order to investigate the brightest X-ray source, which is attributed to the X-ray binary containing an intermediate mass black hole, we compared the Chandra data to known infrared sources. The position of the black hole candidate coincides with the position of the second most luminous mid-infrared feature.

We propose that the brightest mid-infrared feature is an aged superstar cluster which feeds the black hole that is located at approximately the same position. This supports the theory that intermediate mass black holes are formed in the center of dense star clusters.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: wane@ncssm.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.