The Surface Density Profile of NGC 6388: A Good Candidate for Harboring an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole
Lanzoni, B. ; Dalessandro, E. ; Ferraro, F. R. ; et al. ; - ASI Sponsor
Oct - 2007
DOI: 10.1086/522927
ISSN : 0004-637X ;
journal : The Astrophysical Journal
Issue : 2
type: Article Journal
Abstract
We have used a combination of HST high-resolution and ground-based wide-field observations of the
Galactic globular cluster NGC 6388 to derive its center of gravity, projected density profile, and
central surface brightness profile. While the overall projected profiles are well fit by a King
model with an intermediate concentration ( c = 1.8) and a sizable core radius ( r c = 7.2), a
significant power-law (with slope \alpha = -0.2) deviation from flat-core behavior has been detected
within the inner 1. These properties suggest the presence of a central intermediate-mass black
hole. The observed profiles are well reproduced by a multimass isotropic, spherical model, including
a black hole with a mass of 5.7 × 10 3 M ☉ .
keywords : E. Dalessandro: ASI author