Motivated by theoretical expectations that Nuclear Star Clusters ( NSCs ) in galactic centers may provide a favorable environment for super-massive black holes to form and/or efficiently grow , we set out to measure the fraction of nearby nucleated galaxies that also host an Active Galactic Nucleus ( AGN ) .
We targeted a distance-limited sample of 98 objects with the Chandra X-ray Telescope , down to a uniform X-ray luminosity threshold of \sim 10 ^ { 38 } erg s ^ { -1 } .
The sample is composed of 47 late-types and 51 early-types , enabling us to further investigate the active fraction as a function of galactic morphology .
After correcting for contamination to the nuclear X-ray signal from bright X-ray binaries , we measure an active fraction f =11.2 \% ^ { +7.4 } _ { -4.9 } ( 1 \sigma C.L . )
across the whole sample , in agreement with previous estimates based on an heterogeneous combination of optical , X-ray and radio diagnostics , by Seth et al .
( 2008 ) .
After accounting for the different stellar mass distributions in our samples , we find no statistically significant difference in the active fraction of early- vs. late-type nucleated galaxies , with f =10.6 \% ^ { +11.9 } _ { -4.9 } and 10.8 \% ^ { +11.3 } _ { -6.3 } , respectively .
For the early-type nucleated galaxies , we are able to carry out a controlled comparison with a parent sample of non-nucleated galaxies covering the same stellar mass range , finding again no statistically significant difference in the active fraction .
Taken at face value , our findings suggest that the presence of a NSC does not facilitate nor enhance accretion-powered emission from a nuclear super-massive black hole .
This is true even for late-type nucleated galaxies , home to bluer NSCs and arguably larger gas reservoirs .