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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Measuring the mass of the supermassive black bole of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4546

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Author(s):
Ricci, V, T. ; Steiner, J. E. [1]
Total Authors: 2
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Astron Geofis & Ciencias Atmosfer, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; v. 495, n. 3, p. 2620-2629, JUL 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 0
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 (M-BH) 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 (<(v(los)(2))over bar>) of the stellar structure. In addition, we also obtained (M/L)(TOT) and the classical anisotropy parameter beta(z) = 1-(sigma(z)/sigma(R))(2) for this object within a field of view of 200 x 200 pc(2). 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 <(v(los)(2))over bar> of the stellar structure was obtained with (M/L)(TOT) = 4.34 +/- 0.07 (Johnsons R band), M-BH = (2.56 +/- 0.16) X 10(8) M-circle dot and beta(z) = -0.015 +/- 0.03 (3 sigma confidence level). With these results, we found that NGC 4546 follows the M-BH x sigma relation. We also measured the central velocity dispersion within a radius of 1 arcsec of this object as sigma(c) = 241 +/- 2 km s(-1). (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/51680-6 - Exploring the universe: from the galaxies formation to Earth-like planets with the Giant Magellan Telescope
Grantee:Laerte Sodré Junior
Support Opportunities: Special Projects