new puzzles in supermassive black hole evolution
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New Puzzles in Supermassive Black Hole Evolution. Charles L. Steinhardt IPMU, University of Tokyo October 14, 2010. Steinhardt & Elvis 2010, MNRAS, 402, 2637 (arxiv:0911.1355) Steinhardt & Elvis 2010 MNRAS, in press (arxiv:0911.3155) Steinhardt & Elvis 2010 MNRAS 406, L1 (arxiv:0912.0734) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
New Puzzles in Supermassive Black Hole Evolution
Charles L. SteinhardtIPMU, University of Tokyo
October 14, 2010
Steinhardt & Elvis 2010, MNRAS, 402, 2637 (arxiv:0911.1355) Steinhardt & Elvis 2010 MNRAS, in press (arxiv:0911.3155) Steinhardt & Elvis 2010 MNRAS 406, L1 (arxiv:0912.0734) Steinhardt, Elvis, & Amarie 2010, submitted
The supermassive black hole (SMBH) lifecycle
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
4) Quiescence (well, almost)
The supermassive black hole (SMBH) lifecycle
1) Seeding
2) Growth: quasar phase (Soltan)
3) Turnoff
4) Quiescence (well, almost)
The supermassive black hole (SMBH) lifecycle
1) Seeding
2) Growth: quasar phase (Soltan)
3) Turnoff (M- relation)
4) Quiescence (well, almost)
Quasar Luminosity Function
Richards et al. (2006)
How to obtain black hole masses from one SDSS spectrum
Kepler’s Laws on broad emission line gas, so we need v,R.
Doppler broadening of spectral line velocity
Supermassive black hole “mass ladder”
Continuum luminosity radius
Comparison with reverbation masses implies ~0.4 dex uncertainty (more on this later!)
Quasar Mass Function
Vestergaard et al. (2008)
Common beliefs about SMBHs All quasars can radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
Existing data
Existing methods
Existing catalogs
But new methods
Existing data
Quasar catalog and spectra come from SDSS DR5
Existing methods
Existing catalogs
But new methods
Existing data
Quasar catalog and spectra come from SDSS DR5
Virial Mass Estimation: Vestergaard/Peterson, McLure/Dunlop
Existing methods
Existing catalogs
But new methods
Existing data
Quasar catalog and spectra come from SDSS DR5
Virial Mass Estimation: Vestergaard/Peterson, McLure/Dunlop
Actual mass estimates: Shen et al. (2008)
Bolometric luminosities: Richards et al. (2006), Shen et al. (2008)
Existing methods
Existing catalogs
But new methods
Existing data
Quasar catalog and spectra come from SDSS DR5
Virial Mass Estimation: Vestergaard/Peterson, McLure/Dunlop
Actual mass estimates: Shen et al. (2008)
Bolometric luminosities: Richards et al. (2006), Shen et al. (2008)
Time to think two- (or three-) dimensionally!
Existing methods
Existing catalogs
But new methods
0.2 < z < 0.4, H
0.2 < z < 0.4, H
SDSS Saturation
Detection Limit
Qu
asa
r Tu
rnoff
0.2 < z < 0.4, H
Detection Limit
Qu
asa
r Tu
rnoff
Virial mass estimation may be better than previously believed!
Best-fit exponential decays: e-folding of 0.14-0.25 dex
0.2 < z < 0.4, H
Detection Limit
Qu
asa
r Tu
rnoff
Quasars at 1.6 < z < 1.8
Quasars at 1.6 < z < 1.8
Quasars at 1.6 < z < 1.8
Best-fit sub-Eddington boundary slopes
Best-fit sub-Eddington boundary slopes
Risaliti, Young, & Elvis (2009)
Common beliefs about SMBHs All quasars can radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
Expected L/LE distribution at different M, 0.2<z<0.4
Normalized to peak
The L/LE distribution at different M, 0.2<z<0.4
Normalized to peak
The L/LE distribution at different M, 0.2<z<0.4
Normalized to peak
Common beliefs about SMBHs Quasars radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
TRUE! FALSE!
Common beliefs about SMBHs Quasars radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
TRUE! FALSE!
MAYBE NOT?
SDSS quasar colors at high mass, low luminosity
Emission line ratios change at high mass
Highest Mass
Intermediate Mass
Lowest Mass
1.2-1.4
0.8-1.0
Common beliefs about SMBHs Quasars radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
TRUE! FALSE!
MAYBE NOT?
3.0-3.2
Redshift range
2.0-2.2
1.6-1.8
1.2-1.4
0.8-1.0
Luminosity at fixed mass, different z
Common beliefs about SMBHs Quasars radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
TRUE! FALSE!
MAYBE NOT?
FALSE!
9.75-10.0
Log M (solar)
9.50-9.75
9.25-9.50
9.00-9.25
Comoving number density declines at different rates for different masses
Timescales (M), N(t) = N0e-t/(M)
Common beliefs about SMBHs Quasars radiate at the Eddington limit
Quasars are “light-bulbs”: either on (at Eddington) or off
Quasars “flicker”
Luminosity is a proxy for mass
Quasar dynamics come from host galaxy dynamics
FALSE!
TRUE! FALSE!
MAYBE NOT?
FALSE!
SEEMINGLY FALSE!
k20% changes in: t0M0
Track sensitivity to 20% changes in parameters
Sample Track: 1.8 < z < 2.0
Sample Track: 1.6 < z < 1.8
Sample Track: 1.4 < z < 1.6
Sample Track: 1.2 < z < 1.4
Sample Track: 1.0 < z < 1.2
Allowed track parameters at M0=8.5, t0=3.5 Gyr
Quasars are typically on for just 1-2 Gyr!
Allowed parameters for tracks originating at all times
What would we ideally use to study quasar accretion?
Mass and luminosity evolution of individual SMBH
All relevant host galaxy parameters
Only one snapshot
SDSS cannot see the galaxy
What would we ideally use to study quasar accretion?
Mass and luminosity evolution of individual SMBH
All relevant host galaxy parameters
Quasars ARE like light bulbs!
SDSS cannot see the galaxy
What would we ideally use to study quasar accretion?
Mass and luminosity evolution of individual SMBH
All relevant host galaxy parameters
Quasars ARE like light bulbs!
There aren’t any!
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
4) Quiescence (well, almost)
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?Does this mean they are seeded before the first stars?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?Does this mean they are seeded before the first stars?Is it possible to make primordial black hole seeds?
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?Does this mean they are seeded before the first stars?Is it possible to make primordial black hole seeds?
Summary: We don’t know how supermassive black holes are born, how they grow, or why they die.
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?Does this mean they are seeded before the first stars?Is it possible to make primordial black hole seeds?
Summary: We don’t know how supermassive black holes are born, how they grow, or why they die.
The supermassive black hole lifecycle: new, open questions
1) Seeding
2) Growth
3) Turnoff
Are all quasars at a characteristic luminosity?Why is evolution synchronous but time-dependent? Why is the accretion rate sublinear in mass?Can we use quasars as standard candles?
Is turnoff permanent?Are “intrinsically red” quasars in the midst of turnoff?Why is turnoff synchronized?Why is turnoff but not growth linked to the host galaxy?What is the origin of the M- relation?
How are supermassive black holes seeded synchronously?How do the biggest, earliest central black holes form?Does this mean they are seeded before the first stars?Is it possible to make primordial black hole seeds?
Summary: Something exciting is about to happen!
Steinhardt & Elvis 2010, MNRAS 402, 2637 (sub-Eddington boundary)Steinhardt & Elvis 2010, MNRAS in press (Turnoff/Synchronization)Steinhardt & Elvis 2010, MNRAS 406, L1(Virial Masses)Steinhardt, Elvis, & Amarie 2010, sub. MNRAS (tracks)