Supermassive black holes (SMBH) and formation of galaxies

Abstract

The recently confirmed correlation between the mass of SMBH and bulges of galaxies (and their central velocity dispersion), suggest a common formation scenario for galaxies and their central black holes. Common fueling can be invoked through internal dynamical processes, external accretion, and hierarchical merging of structures. The success of recent theories is reviewed, as the self-regulated growth of both bulges and SMBHs, the predicted AGN statistics, when activity is triggered by accretion and mergers, the predicted frequency of binary SMBH and consequences. In particular, the SMBH growth problem can now be revised, invoking intermediate-mass black holes (IMBH) as BH seeds in the early universe. As a by-product, the merger of binary SMBHs help to heat and destroy central stellar cusps. Remaining problems are mentioned.