BREAKING THE LAW: THE M{sub bh}-M{sub spheroid} RELATIONS FOR CORE-SERSIC AND SERSIC GALAXIES

Journal Article · Fri Feb 10 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/746/1/113· OSTI ID:22011764

The popular log-linear relation between supermassive black hole mass, M{sub bh}, and the dynamical mass of the host spheroid, M{sub sph}, is shown to require a significant correction. Core galaxies, typically with M{sub bh} {approx}> 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 8} M{sub Sun} and thought to be formed in dry merger events, are shown to be well described by a linear relation for which the median black hole mass is 0.36%-roughly double the old value of constancy. Of greater significance is that M{sub bh}{proportional_to}M{sup 2}{sub sph} among the (non-pseudobulge) lower-mass systems: specifically, log [M{sub bh}/M{sub Sun }] = (1.92 {+-} 0.38)log [M{sub sph}/7 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 10} M{sub Sun }] + (8.38 {+-} 0.17). 'Classical' spheroids hosting a 10{sup 6} M{sub Sun} black hole will have M{sub bh}/M{sub sph} {approx} 0.025%. These new relations presented herein (1) bring consistency to the relation M{sub bh}{proportional_to}{sigma}{sup 5} and the fact that L{proportional_to}{sigma}{sup x} with exponents of 5 and 2 for bright (M{sub B} {approx}< -20.5 mag) and faint spheroids, respectively, (2) mimic the non-(log-linear) behavior known to exist in the M{sub bh}-(Sersic n) diagram, (3) necessitate the existence of a previously overlooked M{sub bh}{proportional_to}L{sup 2.5} relation for Sersic (i.e., not core-Sersic) galaxies, and (4) resolve past conflicts (in mass prediction) with the M{sub bh}-{sigma} relation at the low-mass end. Furthermore, the bent nature of the M{sub bh}-M{sub sph} relation reported here for 'classical' spheroids will have a host of important implications that, while not addressed in this paper, relate to (1) galaxy/black hole formation theories, (2) searches for the fundamental, rather than secondary, black hole scaling relation, (3) black hole mass predictions in other galaxies, (4) alleged pseudobulge detections, (5) estimates of the black hole mass function and mass density based on luminosity functions, (6) predictions for space-based gravitational wave detections, (7) connections with nuclear star cluster scaling relations, (8) evolutionary studies over different cosmic epochs, (9) comparisons and calibrations matching inactive black hole masses with low-mass active galactic nucleus data, and more.

• OSTI ID: 22011764
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 746; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
CALIBRATION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
LUMINOSITY
MASS
STAR CLUSTERS