NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0083
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0083 |
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PI: Misty Bentz, Georgia State University, bentz@chara.gsu.edu
Address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
CoI: Emily Manne-Nicholas, Georgia State University
CoI: Christopher Onken, Mt. Stromlo Observatory
CoI: Monica Valluri, University of Michigan
Title: A Stellar Dynamical Black Hole Mass for the Reverberation-Mapped Active Galaxy NGC6814
Abstract:
We propose to obtain spatially-resolved spectroscopy of the nucleus of the
nearby (z=0.005) AGN NGC 6814 with Gemini NIFS+ALTAIR to model the
gravitational influence of the central supermassive black hole on the stellar
dynamics of the inner galaxy. A recent reverberation-based black hole mass of
2.0 x 10^7 M_sun for NGC 6814 places the black hole sphere of influence
within the spatial resolution range of current ground-based AO systems.
Because of the differing technical limitations of dynamical mass modeling and
reverberation mapping, NGC 6814 is only the third galaxy where it is
currently possible to directly compare a reverberation and a dynamical mass.
Such a direct comparison provides an independent constraint on the geometric
scaling factor that is currently the largest uncertainty in
reverberation-based masses. All AGN black hole masses from spectroscopic
surveys fundamentally rely on the reverberation sample, and thus our current
understanding of the growth and evolution of black holes and galaxies across
cosmic time relies on the accuracy of reverberation-based black hole masses.
A stellar dynamical mass for NGC 6814 will increase by 50% the small sample
of black holes that provide an independent check on the stability of the
entire AGN black hole mass scale. We are also currently targeting additional
AGNs for reverberation-mapping campaigns with the intent of further
increasing this sample in the future.
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 > 2013B-0083 |
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