Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: The distribution of radio to optical fluxes in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is bimodal. The physical origin for this bimodality is not understood. In this Letter I describe observational evidence, based on the Boroson & Green Palomar-Green quasar sample, that the radio loudness bimodality is strongly related to the black hole mass ( M BH ). Nearly all PG quasars with M BH > 10 9 M ☉ are radio-loud, while quasars with M BH < 3 × 10 8 M ☉ are practically all radio-quiet. This result is consistent with the dependence of quasar host galaxy morphology on radio loudness. There is no simple physical explanation for this result, but it may provide a clue as to how jets are formed near massive black holes. The radio loudness-black hole mass relationship suggests that the properties of various types of AGN may be largely set by three basic parameters: M BH , L / L Edd , and inclination angle.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/317280
Author: Ari Laor
Institution: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1558717895