scholarly journals Measuring the mass of the supermassive black hole of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4546

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (3) ◽  
pp. 2620-2629
Author(s):  
T V Ricci ◽  
J E Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Anisotropy Parameter ◽  
Stellar Structure ◽  
Stellar Kinematics ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Integral Field

ABSTRACT Most galaxies with a well-structured bulge host a supermassive black hole (SMBH) in their centre. Stellar kinematics models applied to adaptive optics (AO) assisted integral field unit observations are well-suited to measure the SMBH mass (MBH) and also the total mass-to-light ratio [(M/L)TOT] and possible anisotropies in the stellar velocity distribution in the central region of galaxies. In this work, we used new AO assisted Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer (NIFS) observations and also photometric data from the Hubble Space Telescope Legacy Archive of the galaxy NGC 4546 in order to determine its SMBH mass. To do this, we applied the Jeans Anisotropic Modelling (JAM) method to fit the average second velocity moment in the line of sight $(\overline{v^2_{\mathrm{ los}}})$ of the stellar structure. In addition, we also obtained (M/L)TOT and the classical anisotropy parameter βz = 1-(σz/σR)2 for this object within a field of view of 200 × 200 pc2. Maps of the stellar radial velocity and of the velocity dispersion were built for this galaxy using the penalized pixel fitting (ppxf) technique. We applied the Multi Gaussian Expansion procedure to fit the stellar brightness distribution. Using JAM, the best-fitting model for $\overline{v^2_{\mathrm{ los}}}$ of the stellar structure was obtained with (M/L)TOT = 4.34 ± 0.07 (Johnson’s R band), MBH = (2.56 ± 0.16) × 108 M⊙ and βz = −0.015 ± 0.03 (3σ confidence level). With these results, we found that NGC 4546 follows the MBH × σ relation. We also measured the central velocity dispersion within a radius of 1 arcsec of this object as σc = 241 ± 2 km s−1.

scholarly journals The Supermassive Black Hole at the Heart of Centaurus A: Revealed by the Kinematics of Gas and Stars

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Neumayer
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Stellar Kinematics ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Integral Field Spectroscopy ◽  
Very Large Telescope ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Centaurus A

AbstractAt less than 4 Mpc distance the radio galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) is the prime example to study the supermassive black hole and its influence on the environment in great detail. To model and understand the feeding and feedback mechanisms one needs an accurate determination of the mass of the supermassive black hole. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the recent studies that have been dedicated to measure the black hole mass in Centaurus A from both gas and stellar kinematics. It shows how the advancement in observing techniques and instrumentation drive the field of black hole mass measurements and concludes that adaptive optics assisted integral field spectroscopy is the key to identify the effects of the AGN on the surrounding ionised gas. Using data from SINFONI at the ESO Very Large Telescope, the best-fit black hole mass is MBH = 4.5(+1.7, −1.0) × 107 M⊙ (from H2 kinematics) and MBH = (5.5 ± 3.0) × 107 M⊙ (from stellar kinematics). This is one of the cleanest gas-versus-star comparisons of a MBH determination, and brings Centaurus A into agreement with the MBH−σ relation.

scholarly journals Evidence for an accreting massive black hole in He 2–10 from adaptive optics integral field spectroscopy

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (2) ◽  
pp. 2004-2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogemar A Riffel
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
Integral Field Spectrograph ◽  
Integral Field

ABSTRACT Henize 2–10 is a blue dwarf galaxy with intense star formation and one the most intriguing question about it is whether or not it hosts an accreting massive black hole. We use H and K-band integral field spectra of the inner 130 pc × 130 pc of He 2–10 to investigate the emission and kinematics of the gas at unprecedented spatial resolution. The observations were done using the Gemini Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) operating with the ALTAIR adaptive optics module and the resulting spatial resolutions are 6.5 and 8.6 pc in the K and H bands, respectively. Most of the line emission is due to excitation of the gas by photoionization and shocks produced by the star forming regions. In addition, our data provide evidence of emission of gas excited by an active galactic nucleus located at the position of the radio and X-ray sources, as revealed by the analysis of the emission-line ratios. The emission lines from the ionized gas in the field present two kinematic components: one narrow with a velocity field suggesting a disc rotation and a broad component due to winds from the star forming regions. The molecular gas shows only the narrow component. The stellar velocity dispersion map presents an enhancement of about 7 km s−1 at the position of the black hole, consistent with a mass of $1.5^{+1.3}_{-1.3}\times 10^6$ M⊙.

scholarly journals Gas and Stellar Kinematics in NGC 6240

2001 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 220-221
Author(s):  
Matthias Tecza ◽  
Linda Tacconi ◽  
Reinhard Genzel
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Stellar Kinematics ◽  
Rapid Rotation ◽  
Integral Field Spectroscopy ◽  
Stellar Velocity ◽  
Nir Emission ◽  
Absorption Features ◽  
Integral Field

We present results from sub-arcsecond near infrared integral field spectroscopy and millimeter IRAM-interferometry of the interacting galaxy NGC 6240. Using stellar absorption features in the NIR we determined the stellar velocity field and dispersion in NGC 6240. The two NIR emission peaks show rapid rotation and indicate a prograde encounter of the two progenitor galaxies. From the velocity dispersion an excess mass between the two nuclei is detected. This mass can be attributed to a massive rotating disk of cold CO gas located between the nuclei.

Searching for the Supermassive Black Hole in NGC 1265 (3C 83.1B)

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 195-195
Author(s):  
Alessandra Beifiori ◽  
Marc Sarzi ◽  
Roger L. Davies ◽  
Michele Cappellari ◽  
Ryan C. W. Houghton
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Radio Galaxy ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Infrared Data

We present K-band adaptive-optics assisted spectroscopic observations of the central region of the archetype head-tail radio galaxy NGC 1265 (3C 83.1), with the aim of constraining the mass of the supermassive black hole (MBH). The near-infrared data taken with the Altair–NIRI system on the Gemini North have a spatial resolution of FWHM = 0.”11 (39 pc, at the galaxy's distance of 73 Mpc).

scholarly journals Observations of NIR polarized light from Sagittarius A*

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 283-287
Author(s):  
B. Shahzamanian ◽  
A. Eckart ◽  
M. Zamaninasab ◽  
G. Witzel ◽  
N. Sabha
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Linearly Polarized ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractWe present a brief overview of results obtained from near-infrared polarized observations of Sgr A*, which is associated with the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The observations have been carried out using the NACO adaptive optics instrument at the VLT UT4 in the infrared Ks-band from 2004 to 2012. Several polarized flares have been observed in this time interval which allow us to determine the statistical properties of NIR linearly polarized light from Sgr A*. Linear polarization at 2.2 μm and its variations can help us to constrain the physical conditions of the accretion process around this supermassive black hole.

scholarly journals On the Relation Between Black Hole Mass and Velocity Dispersion in Type 1 and Type 2 AGN

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 172-176
Author(s):  
Kalliopi M. Dasyra ◽  
Bradley M. Peterson ◽  
Linda J. Tacconi ◽  
Hagai Netzer ◽  
Luis C. Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
High Resolution Spectroscopy ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Line Region ◽  
High Ionization

AbstractWe present results from infrared spectroscopic projects that aim to test the relation between the mass of a black hole MBH and the velocity dispersion of the stars in its host-galaxy bulge. We demonstrate that near-infrared, high-resolution spectroscopy assisted by adaptive optics is key in populating the high-luminosity end of the relation. We show that the velocity dispersions of mid-infrared, high-ionization lines originating from gas in the narrow-line region of the active galactic nucleus follow the same relation. This result provides a way of inferring MBH estimates for the cosmologically significant population of obscured, type 2 AGN that can be applicable to data from spectrographs on next-generation infrared telescopes.

MUSE-adaptive optics view of the starburst-AGN connection: NGC 7130

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 209-213
Author(s):  
Johan H. Knapen ◽  
Sébastien Comerón ◽  
Marja K. Seidel
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Field Mode ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Galaxy Disk ◽  
Integral Field ◽  
Co Emission

AbstractWe combine ALMA and MUSE-NFM (narrow field mode, with full four-laser adaptive optics correction) data at 0.15 arcsec spatial resolution of the archetypical AGN-starburst “composite” galaxy NGC 7130. We present the discovery of a small 0″.2 (60 pc) radius kinematically decoupled core or small bi-polar outflow, as well as a larger-scale outflow. We confirm the existence of star-forming knots arranged in an 0″.58 (185 pc) radius ring around the Seyfert 1.9 nucleus, previously observed from UV and optical Hubble Space Telescope and CO(6-5) ALMA imaging. An extinction map derived from the MUSE data highlights the regions of enhanced CO emission as clearly seen in the ALMA data. We determine the position of the nucleus as the location of a peak in gas velocity dispersion. A plume of material extends towards the NE from the nucleus until at least the edge of our field of view at 2″ (640 pc) radius which we interpret as an outflow originating in the AGN. The plume is not visible morphologically, but is clearly characterised in our data by emission lines ratios characteristic of AGN emission, enhanced gas velocity dispersion, and distinct non-circular gas velocities. Its orientation is roughly perpendicular to the line of nodes of the rotating host galaxy disk. An 0″.2-radius circumnuclear area of positive and negative velocities indicates a tiny inner disk or a small bipolar outflow, only observable when combining the integral field spectroscopic capabilities of MUSE with full adaptive optics.

Central kiloparsec of NGC 1326 observed with SINFONI

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A53
Author(s):  
Nastaran Fazeli ◽  
Gerold Busch ◽  
Andreas Eckart ◽  
Françoise Combes ◽  
Persis Misquitta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Velocity Fields ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Nearby Galaxy ◽  
Stellar Content ◽  
Stellar Rotation ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Integral Field Spectrograph

Gas inflow processes in the vicinity of galactic nuclei play a crucial role in galaxy evolution and supermassive black hole growth. Exploring the central kiloparsec of galaxies is essential to shed more light on this subject. We present near-infrared H- and K-band results of the nuclear region of the nearby galaxy NGC 1326, observed with the integral-field spectrograph SINFONI mounted on the Very Large Telescope. The field of view covers 9″ × 9″ (650 × 650 pc2). Our work is concentrated on excitation conditions, morphology, and stellar content. The nucleus of NGC 1326 was classified as a LINER, however in our data we observed an absence of ionised gas emission in the central r ∼ 3″. We studied the morphology by analysing the distribution of ionised and molecular gas, and thereby detected an elliptically shaped, circum-nuclear star-forming ring at a mean radius of 300 pc. We estimate the starburst regions in the ring to be young with dominating ages of < 10 Myr. The molecular gas distribution also reveals an elongated east to west central structure about 3″ in radius, where gas is excited by slow or mild shock mechanisms. We calculate the ionised gas mass of 8 × 105 M⊙ completely concentrated in the nuclear ring and the warm molecular gas mass of 187 M⊙, from which half is concentrated in the ring and the other half in the elongated central structure. The stellar velocity fields show pure rotation in the plane of the galaxy. The gas velocity fields show similar rotation in the ring, but in the central elongated H2 structure they show much higher amplitudes and indications of further deviation from the stellar rotation in the central 1″ aperture. We suggest that the central 6″ elongated H2 structure might be a fast-rotating central disc. The CO(3–2) emission observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array reveal a central 1″ torus. In the central 1″ of the H2 velocity field and residual maps, we find indications for a further decoupled structure closer to a nuclear disc, which could be identified with the torus surrounding the supermassive black hole.

scholarly journals WISDOM project – VII. Molecular gas measurement of the supermassive black hole mass in the elliptical galaxy NGC 7052

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (4) ◽  
pp. 5984-5996
Author(s):  
Mark D Smith ◽  
Martin Bureau ◽  
Timothy A Davis ◽  
Michele Cappellari ◽  
Lijie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Gas Kinematics ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Gas Measurement ◽  
Strong Gradient

ABSTRACT Supermassive black hole (SMBH) masses can be measured by resolving the dynamical influences of the SMBHs on tracers of the central potentials. Modern long-baseline interferometers have enabled the use of molecular gas as such a tracer. We present here Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 7052 at 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$11 ($37\,$pc) resolution in the 12CO(2-1) line and $1.3\,$ mm continuum emission. This resolution is sufficient to resolve the region in which the potential is dominated by the SMBH. We forward model these observations, using a multi-Gaussian expansion of a Hubble Space Telescope F814W image and a spatially constant mass-to-light ratio to model the stellar mass distribution. We infer an SMBH mass of $2.5\pm 0.3\times 10^{9}\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$ and a stellar I-band mass-to-light ratio of $4.6\pm 0.2\, \mathrm{M_\odot /L_{\odot ,I}}$ (3σ confidence intervals). This SMBH mass is significantly larger than that derived using ionized gas kinematics, which however appears significantly more kinematically disturbed than the molecular gas. We also show that a central molecular gas deficit is likely to be the result of tidal disruption of molecular gas clouds due to the strong gradient in the central gravitational potential.

scholarly journals Hunting for intermediate-mass black holes in globular clusters: an astrometric study of NGC 6441

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (1) ◽  
pp. 1490-1506
Author(s):  
Maximilian Häberle ◽  
Mattia Libralato ◽  
Andrea Bellini ◽  
Laura L Watkins ◽  
Jörg-Uwe Pott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
High Mass ◽  
High Angular Resolution ◽  
Stellar Kinematics ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
The Core ◽  
Large Telescopes

ABSTRACT We present an astrometric study of the proper motions (PMs) in the core of the globular cluster NGC 6441. The core of this cluster has a high density and observations with current instrumentation are very challenging. We combine ground-based, high-angular-resolution NACO@VLT images with Hubble Space Telescope ACS/HRC data and measure PMs with a temporal baseline of 15 yr for about 1400 stars in the centremost 15 arcsec of the cluster. We reach a PM precision of ∼30 µas yr−1 for bright, well-measured stars. Our results for the velocity dispersion are in good agreement with other studies and extend already existing analyses of the stellar kinematics of NGC 6441 to its centremost region never probed before. In the innermost arcsecond of the cluster, we measure a velocity dispersion of (19.1 ± 2.0) km s−1 for evolved stars. Because of its high mass, NGC 6441 is a promising candidate for harbouring an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). We combine our measurements with additional data from the literature and compute dynamical models of the cluster. We find an upper limit of $M_{\rm IMBH} \lt 1.32 \times 10^4\, \textrm{M}_\odot$ but we can neither confirm nor rule out its presence. We also refine the dynamical distance of the cluster to $12.74^{+0.16}_{-0.15}$ kpc. Although the hunt for an IMBH in NGC 6441 is not yet concluded, our results show how future observations with extremely large telescopes will benefit from the long temporal baseline offered by existing high-angular-resolution data.

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