Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time
The black hole mass function of supermassive black holes describes the evolution of the distribution of black hole mass. It is one of the primary empirical tools available for mapping the growth of supermassive black holes and for constraining theoretical models of their evolution. In this paper, we...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Astronomy |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/970858 |
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| _version_ | 1850161741497892864 |
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| author | Brandon C. Kelly Andrea Merloni |
| author_facet | Brandon C. Kelly Andrea Merloni |
| author_sort | Brandon C. Kelly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The black hole mass function of supermassive black holes describes
the evolution of the distribution of black hole mass. It is one of the
primary empirical tools available for mapping the growth of supermassive
black holes and for constraining theoretical models of their
evolution. In this paper, we discuss methods for estimating the black
hole mass function, including their advantages and disadvantages. We
also review the results of using these methods for estimating the mass
function of both active and inactive black holes. In addition, we review
current theoretical models for the growth of supermassive black holes
that predict the black hole mass function. We conclude with a discussion
of directions for future research which will lead to improvement
in both empirical and theoretical determinations of the mass function
of supermassive black holes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa4ebff99fbc41f48fbd4dd1df8718ff |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1687-7969 1687-7977 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Astronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa4ebff99fbc41f48fbd4dd1df8718ff2025-08-20T02:22:44ZengWileyAdvances in Astronomy1687-79691687-79772012-01-01201210.1155/2012/970858970858Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic TimeBrandon C. Kelly0Andrea Merloni1High Energy Astrophysics Division, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAMax-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstraße 1, 85748 Garching, GermanyThe black hole mass function of supermassive black holes describes the evolution of the distribution of black hole mass. It is one of the primary empirical tools available for mapping the growth of supermassive black holes and for constraining theoretical models of their evolution. In this paper, we discuss methods for estimating the black hole mass function, including their advantages and disadvantages. We also review the results of using these methods for estimating the mass function of both active and inactive black holes. In addition, we review current theoretical models for the growth of supermassive black holes that predict the black hole mass function. We conclude with a discussion of directions for future research which will lead to improvement in both empirical and theoretical determinations of the mass function of supermassive black holes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/970858 |
| spellingShingle | Brandon C. Kelly Andrea Merloni Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time Advances in Astronomy |
| title | Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time |
| title_full | Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time |
| title_fullStr | Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time |
| title_short | Mass Functions of Supermassive Black Holes across Cosmic Time |
| title_sort | mass functions of supermassive black holes across cosmic time |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/970858 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brandonckelly massfunctionsofsupermassiveblackholesacrosscosmictime AT andreamerloni massfunctionsofsupermassiveblackholesacrosscosmictime |