Paper detail

A HR-like diagram for galaxies: the M_BH versus M_G sigma^2 relation

We show that the relation between the mass of supermassive black holes located in the center of the host galaxies and the kinetic energy of random motions of the corresponding bulges is a useful tool to study the evolution of galaxies. In the form log[M_BH] = b + m log[M_G sigma^2/c^2], the best-fitting results for a sample of 64 galaxies of various morphological types are the slope m=0.80 and the normalization b=4.53. We note that, in analogy with the H-R diagram for stars, each morphological type of galaxy generally occupies a different area in the M_BH - (M_G sigma^2)/c^2 plane. In particular, we find elliptical galaxies in the upper part of the line of best fit, the lenticular galaxies in the middle part, and the late-type galaxies in the lower part, the mass of the central black hole giving an estimate of the age, whereas the kinetic energy of the stellar bulges is directly connected with the temperature of each galactic system. Finally, the values of the linear correlation coefficient, the intrinsic scatter, and the chi^2 obtained by using the M_BH - M_G sigma^2 relation are better than the corresponding ones obtained from the M_BH - sigma or M_BH - M_G relation.

preprint2009arXivOpen access

Signal facts

What is known right now

Open access2 authors1 topic

Next steps

Decide what to do with this paper

Use like or dislike for the fast social read. The more specific scholarly feedback stays available below when needed.

Log in to curate

Reading frame

Keep the important context close to the paper

Keep the important signals around this paper in one place: votes, save state, collection context, reviews and the metadata you need before deciding what to do next.

Institutions

Add specific reaction

Move through the context

Research map

Open full explorer

Move through nearby people, institutions, topics and adjacent work without leaving the paper page.

Building this map preview

BZPEER is loading the nearby papers, people, topics and institutions for this page.

Structured reviews

0 review(s)

ContributeLeave structured feedbackUse the review template when you have a concrete strength, concern or method question.Open review form

No structured reviews yet. High-signal critique starts here.

Work discussion

0 comment(s)

DiscussAdd a high-signal commentKeep quick notes, caveats and replication pointers separate from formal reviews.Open comment form

No discussion yet. The first strong comment sets the tone.