The relation between GC systems and SMBH in spiral galaxies: The link to the M • – M * correlation.

We explore the relationship between globular cluster total number, N G C , and central black hole mass, M • , in spiral galaxies. Including cosmic scatter, log M • ∝ (1.64 ± 0.24) log N G C . Whereas in ellipticals the correlation is linear [log M • ∝ (1.02 ± 0.10) log N G C ], and hence could be due to statistical convergence through mergers, this mechanism cannot explain the much steeper correlation in spirals. Additionally, we derive total stellar galaxy mass, M *, from its two-slope correlation with N G C (Hudson et al. 2014). In the M • versus M * parameter space, with M * derived from N G C , M • ∝ (1.48 ± 0.18) log M * for ellipticals, and M • ∝ (1.21 ± 0.16) log M * for spirals. The observed agreement between ellipticals and spirals may imply that black holes and galaxies co-evolve through "calm" accretion, AGN feedback and other secular processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]