The cosmic density of massive black holes from galaxy velocity dispersions

M. C. Aller; D. Richstone

doi:10.1086/344484

The cosmic density of massive black holes from galaxy velocity dispersions

M. C. Aller, D. Richstone

Biochemistry, Chemistry, & Physics

University of Michigan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

122 Scopus citations

Abstract

Supermassive black holes are thought to be relics of quasars, and their numbers and masses are therefore related to the quasar luminosity function and its evolution with redshift. We have used the relationship between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion (the ℳ_.-σ relation) to make an improved estimate of the mass density and mass spectrum of supermassive black holes. Uncertainties in the ℳ_.-σ relation have little effect on the mass density. We find a mass density of (4.8 ± 1.6)h² × 10⁵ M_⊙ Mpc^-3. Some of the variance in published density estimates comes from the use of different values of the Hubble constant.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3035-3041
Number of pages	7
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	124
Issue number	6 1764
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/344484
State	Published - Dec 2002

Keywords

Galaxies: general
Galaxies: nuclei

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10.1086/344484

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abstract = "Supermassive black holes are thought to be relics of quasars, and their numbers and masses are therefore related to the quasar luminosity function and its evolution with redshift. We have used the relationship between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion (the ℳ.-σ relation) to make an improved estimate of the mass density and mass spectrum of supermassive black holes. Uncertainties in the ℳ.-σ relation have little effect on the mass density. We find a mass density of (4.8 ± 1.6)h2 × 105 M⊙ Mpc-3. Some of the variance in published density estimates comes from the use of different values of the Hubble constant.",

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AB - Supermassive black holes are thought to be relics of quasars, and their numbers and masses are therefore related to the quasar luminosity function and its evolution with redshift. We have used the relationship between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion (the ℳ.-σ relation) to make an improved estimate of the mass density and mass spectrum of supermassive black holes. Uncertainties in the ℳ.-σ relation have little effect on the mass density. We find a mass density of (4.8 ± 1.6)h2 × 105 M⊙ Mpc-3. Some of the variance in published density estimates comes from the use of different values of the Hubble constant.

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KW - Galaxies: nuclei

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SP - 3035

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JO - Astronomical Journal

JF - Astronomical Journal

IS - 6 1764

ER -

The cosmic density of massive black holes from galaxy velocity dispersions

Abstract

Keywords

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