10935(  1) - 04/03/06 10:58  - [  1]

                  HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 10935

Version: 1    Check-in Time: 03-Apr-2006 14:58:41

Title
Resolving the Critical Ambiguities of the M-Sigma Relation
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Type             Cycle     Parallel Pointing Tolerance
AR               15        <none>
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Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Dr. Dan Batcheldor                Rochester Institute of Technology
   CoI: Prof. David Merritt               Rochester Institute of Technology             N
   CoI: Prof. David J. Axon               Rochester Institute of Technology             N
   CoI: Dr. Stefi A. Baum                 Rochester Institute of Technology             N
   CoI: Dr. Kambiz Fathi                  Rochester Institute of Technology             N
   CoI: Dr. Monica Valluri                University of Chicago                         N
   CoI: Dr. Mark Hughes                   University of Hertfordshire                   N

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Abstract

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 propose to 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.
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