THE (BLACK HOLE)-BULGE MASS SCALING RELATION AT LOW MASSES
Abstract
Several recent papers have reported on the occurrence of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) containing undermassive black holes relative to a linear scaling relation between black hole mass (M {sub bh}) and host spheroid stellar mass (M {sub sph,} {sub *}). However, dramatic revisions to the M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} and M {sub bh}-L {sub sph} relations, based on samples containing predominantly inactive galaxies, have recently identified a new steeper relation at M {sub bh} ≲ (2-10) × 10{sup 8} M {sub ☉}, roughly corresponding to M {sub sph,} {sub *} ≲ (0.3-1) × 10{sup 11} M {sub ☉}. We show that this steeper, quadratic-like M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} relation defined by the Sérsic galaxies, i.e., galaxies without partially depleted cores, roughly tracks the apparent offset of the AGN having 10{sup 5} ≲ M {sub bh}/M {sub ☉} ≲ 0.5 × 10{sup 8}. That is, these AGNs are not randomly offset with low black hole masses, but also follow a steeper (nonlinear) relation. As noted by Busch et al., confirmation or rejection of a possible AGN offset from the steeper M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} relation defined by the Sérsic galaxies will benefitmore »
- Authors:
-
- Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (Australia)
- Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 (Australia)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 22364701
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Astrophysical Journal
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 798; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; BLACK HOLES; GALACTIC EVOLUTION; GALAXIES; GALAXY NUCLEI; MASS; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; RANDOMNESS; SCALING LAWS; SPHEROIDS; STAR CLUSTERS; VISIBLE RADIATION
Citation Formats
Graham, Alister W., and Scott, Nicholas. THE (BLACK HOLE)-BULGE MASS SCALING RELATION AT LOW MASSES. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/798/1/54.
Graham, Alister W., & Scott, Nicholas. THE (BLACK HOLE)-BULGE MASS SCALING RELATION AT LOW MASSES. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/798/1/54
Graham, Alister W., and Scott, Nicholas. 2015.
"THE (BLACK HOLE)-BULGE MASS SCALING RELATION AT LOW MASSES". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/798/1/54.
@article{osti_22364701,
title = {THE (BLACK HOLE)-BULGE MASS SCALING RELATION AT LOW MASSES},
author = {Graham, Alister W. and Scott, Nicholas},
abstractNote = {Several recent papers have reported on the occurrence of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) containing undermassive black holes relative to a linear scaling relation between black hole mass (M {sub bh}) and host spheroid stellar mass (M {sub sph,} {sub *}). However, dramatic revisions to the M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} and M {sub bh}-L {sub sph} relations, based on samples containing predominantly inactive galaxies, have recently identified a new steeper relation at M {sub bh} ≲ (2-10) × 10{sup 8} M {sub ☉}, roughly corresponding to M {sub sph,} {sub *} ≲ (0.3-1) × 10{sup 11} M {sub ☉}. We show that this steeper, quadratic-like M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} relation defined by the Sérsic galaxies, i.e., galaxies without partially depleted cores, roughly tracks the apparent offset of the AGN having 10{sup 5} ≲ M {sub bh}/M {sub ☉} ≲ 0.5 × 10{sup 8}. That is, these AGNs are not randomly offset with low black hole masses, but also follow a steeper (nonlinear) relation. As noted by Busch et al., confirmation or rejection of a possible AGN offset from the steeper M {sub bh}-M {sub sph,} {sub *} relation defined by the Sérsic galaxies will benefit from improved stellar mass-to-light ratios for the spheroids hosting these AGNs. Several implications for formation theories are noted. Furthermore, reasons for possible under- and overmassive black holes, the potential existence of intermediate mass black holes (<10{sup 5} M {sub ☉}), and the new steep (black hole)-(nuclear star cluster) relation, M{sub bh}∝M{sub nc}{sup 2.7±0.7}, are also discussed.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/798/1/54},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22364701},
journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 798,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}