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The W i d e s p r e a d Influence of Supermassive Black Holes Christopher Onken Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics Christopher Onken Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
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The Milky Way Sgr A* Seen in X-rays, radio, IR 3.5 Million M Sgr A* Seen in X-rays, radio, IR 3.5 Million M Near-IR (HKL) image (VLT) Radio (6 cm) image (VLA) X-ray image (Chandra) Optical image
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“S” Stars Orbits followed for ~10 years Keck VLT
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Hypervelocity Stars 7 Galactic stars with radial velocities of 400+ km/s Ejected from Galactic Center No proper motions yet, so velocities are lower limits 7 Galactic stars with radial velocities of 400+ km/s Ejected from Galactic Center No proper motions yet, so velocities are lower limits
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3-Body Interactions Orbital energy is exchanged, ejecting one star at high speed Remaining stars left in tighter orbit sverre.com
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Larger Connections Tight correlation between SBH mass and galaxy velocity dispersion (M- ) Far beyond direct influence of SBH’s gravity Tight correlation between SBH mass and galaxy velocity dispersion (M- ) Far beyond direct influence of SBH’s gravity Stellar velocity Black hole mass
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Star Clusters Instead of SBHs? Some galaxies seem to have nuclear star clusters but may not have SBHs Star clusters also seem to be correlated with galaxy properties (mass, in this case) Black hole mass or Cluster mass Stellar velocity Galaxy mass
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Feeding the Monster Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) SBHs that are actively accreting matter Among the most luminous objects in the universe Highly variable Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) SBHs that are actively accreting matter Among the most luminous objects in the universe Highly variable
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Reverberation Mapping (an analogy) V838 Mon (HST imaging, 2002-2005)
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Reverberation Mapping Take advantage of variability Changes in ionizing radiation drive changes in emission lines Measure V
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Reverberation Mapping There is a time delay between variations in continuum and response of emission lines Represents the travel time of the radiation from the SBH to the line-emitting gas Time delay of 1 day = distance of 1 light-day There is a time delay between variations in continuum and response of emission lines Represents the travel time of the radiation from the SBH to the line-emitting gas Time delay of 1 day = distance of 1 light-day
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AGN Masses From measurements of velocity (line width) and distance (time lag), the SBH mass can be estimated Different emission lines have different widths and lags, but give consistent SBH masses From measurements of velocity (line width) and distance (time lag), the SBH mass can be estimated Different emission lines have different widths and lags, but give consistent SBH masses
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AGN M- Relation AGNs consistent with inactive galaxy relation, but larger errorbars and larger scatter AGNs Inactive Galaxies Stellar velocity Black hole mass
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Shortcut to AGN Masses Approximate line width measurement from a single spectrum Estimate radius of line-emitting gas from one measurement of the continuum luminosity AGN mass from a single spectrum! Approximate line width measurement from a single spectrum Estimate radius of line-emitting gas from one measurement of the continuum luminosity AGN mass from a single spectrum! Single spectrum Reverberation campaign AGN luminosity Time delay
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Extending the M- Relation A handful of low-mass AGNs have measured velocity dispersions Appear to follow the inactive galaxy relation, but may show flattening of slope at low Stellar velocity Black hole mass
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AGN Surveys Deep surveys of small area can find faint AGNs but miss the rare objects. AGN and Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES) MMT AGN Luminosity Black hole mass
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AGN Surveys Large area surveys produce tens of thousands of AGN masses, probing most of the history of the universe. AAT 2dF Quasar Redshift (2QZ) Survey AGN Luminosity Black hole mass
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Putting the Pieces Together Need to combine the information from different types of surveys to develop a complete picture of SBH growth Still need to identify a mechanism for feeding the SBH Need to combine the information from different types of surveys to develop a complete picture of SBH growth Still need to identify a mechanism for feeding the SBH
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Mergers? Many AGNs appear to be in mid-collision Number of AGNs has fallen over the last 10 billion years, roughly in line with declining merger rate of dark matter halos Many AGNs appear to be in mid-collision Number of AGNs has fallen over the last 10 billion years, roughly in line with declining merger rate of dark matter halos Dark blue: 2 massive galaxies Green: 2 massive SBHs Number of AGNs Universe Age Merger rate Universe Age
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Merger Simulations Model gas, stars, & dark matter Use empirical relations to insert formation of new stars Model gas, stars, & dark matter Use empirical relations to insert formation of new stars Produce too many big, blue galaxies--too many new stars formed because too much cold gas remains in the merged galaxy.
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SBHs as the Solution? Add SBH to the model Assume gas close to the SBH falls in (becomes an AGN) Small amount of AGN energy (~5%) heats gas in the galaxy Add SBH to the model Assume gas close to the SBH falls in (becomes an AGN) Small amount of AGN energy (~5%) heats gas in the galaxy
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Simulation Predictions 5% feedback efficiency chosen to match observed M- relation Removal of gas by AGN cuts off star formation (no big blue galaxies) Stellar velocity Black hole mass Galaxy mass Red Blue Galaxy color
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Predicted AGN Activity Provides a reasonable match to observed distribution of accretion rates Predictions from a single merger simulation AGES
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Is This Feedback Reasonable? Jets and other outflows are seen in AGNs
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Too Strong? Simulated jets blast through the surrounding gas and don’t input energy for very long
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But If It DOES Work… AGN feedback could solve another problem: a lack of “warm” (10 6 K) gas in some galaxy clusters Hot gas should be cooling, condensing onto the central galaxy, forming stars AGN energy input could explain why that doesn’t occur AGN feedback could solve another problem: a lack of “warm” (10 6 K) gas in some galaxy clusters Hot gas should be cooling, condensing onto the central galaxy, forming stars AGN energy input could explain why that doesn’t occur X-rays: color, radio: contours
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Another Merger+SBH Signature? Mergers could also explain flatter inner profile of massive galaxies Mergers of roughly equal mass galaxies with SBHs flatten the central stellar density profile Density of stars Galaxy radius
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Progress Report The last 10 years have seen significant developments in our understanding Plenty of interesting questions remain How are the first SBHs formed? Are SBHs and star clusters related? Can mergers explain everything? Do galaxies really “explode”? The last 10 years have seen significant developments in our understanding Plenty of interesting questions remain How are the first SBHs formed? Are SBHs and star clusters related? Can mergers explain everything? Do galaxies really “explode”?
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Future Steps: Observations: Milky Way Passage of time improves knowledge of “S” star orbits Probing fainter stars with better angular resolution and deeper observations More follow-up for hypervelocity stars
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Future Steps: Observations: Mass Measurements Continuing observations of low-mass AGNs, nuclear star clusters TMT will allow a large number of new SBH mass measurements Continuing observations of low-mass AGNs, nuclear star clusters TMT will allow a large number of new SBH mass measurements Predicted SBH Mass Distance from Sun
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Future Steps: Observations: Reverberation Mapping Recent campaign at MDM Observatory 2-D reverberation mapping with Kronos MDM 1.3m Time delay Gas velocity
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Future Steps: Observations: AGN Surveys SDSS (~80,000 AGNs, ~8,000 deg 2, g<20.2) 2SLAQ (~10,000 AGNs, g<21.8, ~400 deg 2 ) with 2dF instrument on AAT SDSS (~80,000 AGNs, ~8,000 deg 2, g<20.2) 2SLAQ (~10,000 AGNs, g<21.8, ~400 deg 2 ) with 2dF instrument on AAT SDSS Telescopes 2dF
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Future Steps: Simulations Improved computing power will allow higher spatial & temporal resolutions Include more detailed physics Improved computing power will allow higher spatial & temporal resolutions Include more detailed physics “Columbia” at NASA-Ames: 43 teraflops -2GHz Pentium 4: few gigaflops -Xbox 360: ~100 gigaflops
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Summary SBHs reveal themselves by their extreme influence on their immediate surroundings But recent evidence points to SBHs having important effects on larger size scales, impacting their host galaxies and even galaxy clusters SBHs reveal themselves by their extreme influence on their immediate surroundings But recent evidence points to SBHs having important effects on larger size scales, impacting their host galaxies and even galaxy clusters
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