High redshift quasars and the supermassive black hole mass budget: constraints on quasar formation models

Bromley, J M
Somerville, R S
Fabian, A C

Publication date

November 2003

Abstract

We investigate the constraints on models of supermassive black hole (SMBH) and quasar formation obtainable from two recent observational developments: the discovery of luminous quasars at z~6, and estimates of the local mass density of SMBHs. If ~90 per cent of this mass was accreted at redshifts z<3, as suggested by the observed quasar luminosity functions, these joint constraints pose a challenge for models, which must account for the observed luminous quasar population at z~6 within a very limited `mass budget'. We investigate a class of models based within the hierarchical structure formation scenario, in which major mergers lead to black hole formation and fuelling, and the resulting quasars shine at their Eddington-limited rate until ...

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High redshift quasars and the supermassive black hole mass budget: constraints on quasar formation models

Abstract

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High redshift quasars and the supermassive black hole mass budget: constraints on quasar formation models

Abstract

Extracted data

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