The M-sigma Relation (#10935)

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UPDATE:

Budget appeal successful, E/PO project not. IFS data obtained for 14 of the galaxies, cluster configuration beginning.

Next Deadline:

Project Outline:

Determining the best estimates of the masses of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their uncertainties is crucial for constraining the slope and scatter of the SMBH mass vs. stellar velocity dispersion (M-sigma) relation and for understanding the relation between SMBHs and their host galaxies. We will critically evaluate the values of the SMBH masses in a sample of 23 galaxies using data derived from STIS long-slit spectroscopy. This study will directly achieve three significant and fundamental improvements to the M-sigma relation. First, we will use all suitable STIS long-slit data to analyze SMBH masses in an entirely homogeneous fashion. Second, we will substantially increase the SMBH sample size with new estimates. Finally, we will use our state-of-the-art Schwarzschild code, which will, for the first time and independently of the modelling parameters, explore the full range of SMBH masses that give statistically acceptable fits to a given data set. These analyses can be carried out with unrivaled efficiency using the cutting-edge computing facilities available at RIT. This work will result in the most accurate and reliable estimate of the form (slope and scatter) of the M-sigma relation; to date improvements have only been somewhat incremental. Such a study will place important constraints on some of the most fundamental problems remaining in contemporary astrophysics.

Current Progress:

All archive data in hand, still some IFS to get though.

STScI Project Pages

Considerations:

Documents (on request):

  • Original Proposal
  • Current Phase II file
  • Current Budget Narrative
  • WHT INTEGRAL Proposal
  • AAT AAOMEGA Proposal

Time-line:

27th Jan 2006Phase I file submitted
3rd Apr 2006Phase I accepted
19th May 2006Phase II file and budget due
Sep 2006Data from STScI due
Sep 2007Data Reduction Complete
Oct 20073I model adapted and parrellised
Sep 2008Modelling Complete
Oct 2008Wrap up - publications?

Team Members:

  • Dan Batcheldor (PI, RIT)
  • David Merritt (RIT)
  • David Axon (RIT)
  • Stefi Baum (RIT)
  • Kambiz Fathi (IAC)
  • Monica Valluri (University of Chicago)
  • Mark Hughes (University of Hertfordshire)

Associate Integral Field Members:

  • Santiago Arribas (STScI)
  • Katrina Exter (STScI)

Associate E/PO Members:

  • Jacob Noel-Storr (Arizona)
  • Hans-Peter Bischof (RIT)