Discovery of a Nuclear X-Ray Source in NGC 7331: Evidence for a Massive Black Hole

Using ROSAT, we have made the first deep X-ray observations of NGC 7331, discovering a nuclear X-ray source coincident with the previously determined radio and optical nuclear centers. Positions, luminosities, and fluxes of X-ray sources in the field are compared to previously identified radio and optical sources. The nucleus of NGC 7331 has been analyzed to discern any new evidence supporting the presence of a massive black hole (MBH), and comparisons are made with other Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Region (LINER) galaxies. The flux ratio of core radio to soft X-ray emission in NGC 7331 is lower than in other LINERs included in our sample.