Running late: testing delayed supermassive black hole growth models against the quasar luminosity function

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stac398
• Publication Date: 2022-02-12T20:08:56Z
• Authors: Megan Taylor Tillman; Sarah Wellons; Claude-André Fauc...; Luke Zoltan Kelley; Daniel Anglés-Alc...
• Keywords: Stellar mass

Observations of massive galaxies at low redshift have revealed approximately linear scaling relations between the mass a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and properties its host galaxy. How these evolve with whether they extend to lower-mass however remain open questions. Recent galaxy formation simulations predict delayed, or "two-phase", growth SMBHs: slow, highly intermittent BH due repeated gas ejection by stellar feedback in low-mass galaxies, followed more sustained accretion that eventually brings BHs onto local relations. The predicted two-phase implies steep increase, "kink", BH-galaxy $M_{*}\sim5\times10^{10} M_{\odot}$. We develop parametric, semi-analytic model compare different SMBH models against observations quasar luminosity function (QLF) $z\sim0.5-4$. which relation is purely versus models. are anchored observed function, functions redshifts consistently connected rates contributing QLF. best fits suggest evolution significantly preferred QLF data over relation. Moreover, when parameters left free, imply transition consistent simulations. Our analysis motivates further observational tests, including measurements masses AGN activity end, could directly test growth.