The Supermassive Black Hole Mass Function in Spiral Galaxies
Abstract
The AGES group is exploring a number of techniques to study the relationship between central SMBH black hole mass and spiral arm morphology in disk galaxies. We have developed a new technique which permits us to reliably and accurately measure pitch angle based upon a 2DFFT algorithm. We have then compared pitch angles to directly measured black hole masses in local galaxies and demonstrated a strong correlation between them. Using the relation thus established we have developed a pitch angle distribution function of a statistically complete volume limited sample of nearby galaxies and developed a central black hole mass function for nearby spiral galaxies.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #221
- Pub Date:
- January 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AAS...22114627K