NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0405
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0405 |
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PI: Douglas Richstone, Univ of Michigan, dor@umich.edu
Address: Astronomy Department, 500 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
CoI: Kayhan Gultekin, Univ of Michigan
CoI: Tod Lauer, NOAO/KPNO
CoI: Karl Gebhardt, Univ of Texas
Title: Probing the Envelope of the Black Hole Mass - Galaxy Dispersion Relation
Abstract:
We request 2 nights of NIFS + AO time to measure black hole (BH)
masses in 4 galaxies selected to provide a vital diagnostic of the
distribution of BH mass about the mean Mbh-sigma relation. The galaxies
are selected to have the best resolved BH ``spheres of influence" (SOI)
predicted by their velocity dispersions. Combined with existing and
other proposed measurements this sample will form a statistically
complete sample of the best galaxies in the local universe to capture
the full distribution of masses. There is concern that observational
biases may mean the existing estensive work on BH masses only defines
the upper envelope of the BH mass distribution. By focusing on galaxies
with predicted large angular SOIs we allow for the greatest range of BH
mass at any dispersion to be observed. The observed distribution
thereby provides an immediate test of the envelope model.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0405 |
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