Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies
We present an analysis of the pitch angle distribution function (PADF) for nearby galaxies and its resulting black hole mass function (BHMF) via the well-known relationship between pitch angle and black hole mass. Our sample consists of a subset of 74 spiral galaxies from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/12/649 |
| _version_ | 1797455071863111680 |
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| author | Michael S. Fusco Benjamin L. Davis Julia Kennefick Daniel Kennefick Marc S. Seigar |
| author_facet | Michael S. Fusco Benjamin L. Davis Julia Kennefick Daniel Kennefick Marc S. Seigar |
| author_sort | Michael S. Fusco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present an analysis of the pitch angle distribution function (PADF) for nearby galaxies and its resulting black hole mass function (BHMF) via the well-known relationship between pitch angle and black hole mass. Our sample consists of a subset of 74 spiral galaxies from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey with absolute <i>B</i>-band magnitude <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="fraktur">M</mi><mi>B</mi></msub><mo>></mo><mo>−</mo><mn>19.12</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> mag and luminosity distance <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>D</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">L</mi></msub><mo>≤</mo><mn>25.4</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> Mpc, which is an extension of a complementary set of 140 more luminous (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="fraktur">M</mi><mi>B</mi></msub><mo>≤</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>19.12</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> mag) late-type galaxies. We find the PADFs of the two samples are, somewhat surprisingly, not strongly dissimilar; a result that may hold important implications for spiral formation theories. Our data show a distinct bimodal population manifest in the pitch angles of the Sa–Sc types and separately the Scd–Sm types, with Sa–Sc types having tighter spiral arms on average. Importantly, we uncover a distinct bifurcation of the BHMF, such that the Sa–Sc galaxies typically host so-called “supermassive” black holes (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>M</mi><mo>•</mo></msub><mo>≳</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>6</mn></msup><mspace width="0.166667em"></mspace><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">M</mi><mo>⊙</mo></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), whereas Scd–Sm galaxies accordingly harbor black holes that are “less-than-supermassive” (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>M</mi><mo>•</mo></msub><mo>≲</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>6</mn></msup><mspace width="0.166667em"></mspace><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">M</mi><mo>⊙</mo></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>). It is amongst this latter population of galaxies where we expect fruitful bounties of elusive intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs), through which a better understanding will help form more precise benchmarks for future generations of gravitational wave detectors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:47:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9c68a8939a24f23959be67b6e8624a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:47:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9c68a8939a24f23959be67b6e8624a22023-11-24T18:29:31ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-12-0181264910.3390/universe8120649Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral GalaxiesMichael S. Fusco0Benjamin L. Davis1Julia Kennefick2Daniel Kennefick3Marc S. Seigar4Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USACentre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, AustraliaArkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAArkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USAWe present an analysis of the pitch angle distribution function (PADF) for nearby galaxies and its resulting black hole mass function (BHMF) via the well-known relationship between pitch angle and black hole mass. Our sample consists of a subset of 74 spiral galaxies from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey with absolute <i>B</i>-band magnitude <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="fraktur">M</mi><mi>B</mi></msub><mo>></mo><mo>−</mo><mn>19.12</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> mag and luminosity distance <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>D</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">L</mi></msub><mo>≤</mo><mn>25.4</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> Mpc, which is an extension of a complementary set of 140 more luminous (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="fraktur">M</mi><mi>B</mi></msub><mo>≤</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>19.12</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> mag) late-type galaxies. We find the PADFs of the two samples are, somewhat surprisingly, not strongly dissimilar; a result that may hold important implications for spiral formation theories. Our data show a distinct bimodal population manifest in the pitch angles of the Sa–Sc types and separately the Scd–Sm types, with Sa–Sc types having tighter spiral arms on average. Importantly, we uncover a distinct bifurcation of the BHMF, such that the Sa–Sc galaxies typically host so-called “supermassive” black holes (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>M</mi><mo>•</mo></msub><mo>≳</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>6</mn></msup><mspace width="0.166667em"></mspace><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">M</mi><mo>⊙</mo></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>), whereas Scd–Sm galaxies accordingly harbor black holes that are “less-than-supermassive” (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>M</mi><mo>•</mo></msub><mo>≲</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>6</mn></msup><mspace width="0.166667em"></mspace><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">M</mi><mo>⊙</mo></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>). It is amongst this latter population of galaxies where we expect fruitful bounties of elusive intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs), through which a better understanding will help form more precise benchmarks for future generations of gravitational wave detectors.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/12/649black hole physicsgalaxies: spiralgalaxies: structuregalaxies: statistics |
| spellingShingle | Michael S. Fusco Benjamin L. Davis Julia Kennefick Daniel Kennefick Marc S. Seigar Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies Universe black hole physics galaxies: spiral galaxies: structure galaxies: statistics |
| title | Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies |
| title_full | Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies |
| title_fullStr | Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies |
| title_short | Probing the Low-Mass End of the Black Hole Mass Function via a Study of Faint Local Spiral Galaxies |
| title_sort | probing the low mass end of the black hole mass function via a study of faint local spiral galaxies |
| topic | black hole physics galaxies: spiral galaxies: structure galaxies: statistics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/12/649 |
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