Black hole mass measurements using ionized gas discs: systematic dust effects

Journal Article · Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3009479· OSTI ID:21251431

Baes, Maarten ^[1]

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1. Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S9, B-9000 Gent (Belgium)

Using detailed Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations in realistic models for galactic nuclei, we investigate the influence of interstellar dust in ionized gas discs on the rotation curves and the resulting black hole mass measurements. We find that absorption and scattering by interstellar dust leaves the shape of the rotation curves basically unaltered, but slightly decreases the central slope of the rotation curves. As a result, the ''observed'' black hole masses are systematically underestimated by some 10 to 20% for realistic optical depths. We therefore argue that the systematic effect of dust attenuation should be taken into account when estimating SMBH masses using ionized gas kinematics.

• OSTI ID: 21251431
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1053, Issue 1; Conference: 2. Kolkata conference on observational evidence for black holes in the Universe; Satellite meeting on black holes, neutron stars, and gamma-ray bursts, Kolkata (India), 10-15 Feb 2008; 16-17 Feb 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3009479; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSORPTION
ATTENUATION
BLACK HOLES
DUSTS
MASS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
ROTATION
SCATTERING
SIMULATION