In Search Of The Largest Velocity Dispersion Galaxies

Date

2008-11

Authors

Salviander, Sarah
Shields, Gregory A.
Gebhardt, Karl
Bernardi, M.
Hyde, J. B.

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Abstract

We present Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) observations for galaxies at redshift z < 0:3 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) showing large velocity dispersions while appearing to be single galaxies in HSTimages. The high signal-to-noise HET spectra provide more definitive velocity dispersions. The maximum velocity dispersion we find is sigma() = 444 km s(-1). Emission-line widths in QSOs indicate that black holes can exist with masses M-center dot exceeding 5 billion M-circle dot, implying sigma() > 500 km s(-1) by the local M-center dot sigma() relationship. This suggests either that QSO black hole masses are overestimated or that the black hole-bulge relationship changes at high black hole mass. The latter option is consistent with evidence that the increase in sigma() with luminosity levels off for the brightest elliptical galaxies.

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Citation

Salviander, Sarah, G. A. Shields, K. Gebhardt, M. Bernardi, and J. B. Hyde. "In search of the largest velocity dispersion galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 687, No. 2 (Nov., v2008): 828.