Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Jan 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011aas...21731005m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #217, #310.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011
Physics
Optics
Scientific paper
Hierarchical merging of smaller structures into larger ones is fundamental to galaxy evolution in ΛCDM cosmologies. The Mbh sigma relation suggests that when galaxies merge, their central supermassive black holes merge and grow as well. Using spectroscopic surveys such as SDSS and DEEP, candidates for galaxies containing two active black holes or an offset black hole have been identified by double-peaked or offset narrow emission lines. However it is not yet known whether these galaxies correspond to systems in which there are actually double supermassive black holes. With the Keck 2 Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system and the NIRC2 camera, we have obtained high spatial resolution near-infrared images of spectroscopically identified candidate galaxies that may contain two supermassive black holes. In our sample of 24 galaxies to date, approximately half are in close mergers, have close companion galaxies, and/or show clearly disturbed morphologies. We discuss the implications of our observations for the fueling of merging supermassive black holes as well as for the relationship between QSO activity and major mergers.
Most of the data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Max Claire Ellen
McGurk Rosalie C.
Rosario David J.
Shields Gregory A.
Smith Kermit L.
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