Open AccessActive galactic nuclei and the minor merger hypothesis
Author(s) -
Kendall Philip,
Magorrian John,
Pringle J. E.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2003.06776.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , merge (version control) , galaxy , galaxy merger , astronomy , interacting galaxy , satellite galaxy , active galactic nucleus , peculiar galaxy , lenticular galaxy , galaxy formation and evolution , computer science , information retrieval
We have investigated the dynamics of the merging process in the minor merger hypothesis for active galactic nuclei. We find that for a satellite galaxy to be able to merge directly with the nucleus of the host galaxy (for example, to give rise to the compact dust discs which are seen in early‐type active galaxies), the initial orbit of the satellite is required to be well aimed. For the case of the host galaxy being a disc galaxy, if the initial orbits of the satellites are randomly oriented with respect to the host galaxy, then the orbits of those which reach the host nuclear regions in a reasonable time are also fairly randomly oriented once they reach the nucleus. We note that this result might be able to provide an explanation of why the jet directions in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies are apparently unrelated to the plane of the galaxy discs.