THE HIDDEN 'AGN MAIN SEQUENCE': EVIDENCE FOR A UNIVERSAL BLACK HOLE ACCRETION TO STAR FORMATION RATE RATIO SINCE z {approx} 2 PRODUCING AN M{sub BH}-M{sub *} RELATION

Journal Article · Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/753/2/L30· OSTI ID:22047697

Mullaney, J R; Daddi, E; Bethermin, M; Elbaz, D; Juneau, S; Pannella, M; Sargent, M T ^[1]; Alexander, D M ^[2]; Hickox, R C ^[3]

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1. Irfu/Service d'Astrophysique, CEA-Saclay, Orme des Merisiers, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex (France)
2. Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom)
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, 6127 Wilder Laboratory, Hanover, NH 03755 (United States)

Using X-ray stacking analyses we estimate the average amounts of supermassive black hole (SMBH) growth taking place in star-forming galaxies at z {approx} 1 and z {approx} 2 as a function of galaxy stellar mass (M{sub *}). We find that the average SMBH growth rate follows remarkably similar trends with M{sub *} and redshift as the average star formation rates (SFRs) of their host galaxies (i.e., M-dot{sub BH} {proportional_to} M{sub *}{sup 0.86{+-}0.39} for the z {approx} 1 sample and M-dot{sub BH} {proportional_to} M{sub *}{sup 1.05{+-}0.36} for the z {approx} 2 sample). It follows that the ratio of SMBH growth rate to SFR is (1) flat with respect to M{sub *}, (2) not evolving with redshift, and (3) close to the ratio required to maintain/establish an SMBH to stellar mass ratio of Almost-Equal-To 10{sup -3} as also inferred from today's M{sub BH}-M{sub Bulge} relationship. We interpret this as evidence that SMBHs have, on average, grown in step with their host galaxies since at least z {approx} 2, irrespective of host galaxy mass and active galactic nucleus triggering mechanism. As such, we suggest that the same secular processes that drive the bulk of star formation are also responsible for the majority of SMBH growth. From this, we speculate that it is the availability of gas reservoirs that regulate both cosmological SMBH growth and star formation.

• OSTI ID: 22047697
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 753, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
COSMOLOGY
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
MASS
RED SHIFT
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
X RADIATION