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Possible power source of Seyfert galaxies and QSOs

Abstract

The possible presence of massive black holes in the nuclei of galaxies has been suggested many times. In addition, there is considerable observational evidence for high stellar densities in these nuclei. I show that the tidal breakup of stars passing within the Roche limit of a black hole initiates a chain of events that may explain many of the observed principal characteristics of QSOs and the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies.

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Hills, J. Possible power source of Seyfert galaxies and QSOs. Nature 254, 295–298 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254295a0

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