The Fundamental Plane of Accretion Onto Black Holes with Dynamical Masses

TL;DR

This study refines the fundamental relation between black hole mass, radio, and X-ray luminosities using only dynamically measured masses and archival Chandra data, improving understanding of accretion and jet production.

Contribution

It provides a more accurate fundamental plane relation for black holes with direct mass measurements, reducing systematic errors and enhancing predictive power.

Findings

The fundamental plane relation is consistent with previous studies.

Excluding obscured AGN improves mass prediction accuracy.

The relation can serve as an effective black hole mass predictor.

Abstract

Black hole accretion and jet production are areas of intensive study in astrophysics. Recent work has found a relation between radio luminosity, X-ray luminosity, and black hole mass. With the assumption that radio and X-ray luminosity are suitable proxies for jet power and accretion power, respectively, a broad fundamental connection between accretion and jet production is implied. In an effort to refine these links and enhance their power, we have explored the above relations exclusively among black holes with direct, dynamical mass-measurements. This approach not only eliminates systematic errors incurred through the use of secondary mass measurements, but also effectively restricts the range of distances considered to a volume-limited sample. Further, we have exclusively used archival data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory to best isolate nuclear sources. We find log(L_R) = (4.80 +/- 0.24) + (0.78 +/- 0.27) log(M_BH) + (0.67 +/- 0.12) log(L_X), in broad agreement with prior efforts. Owing to the nature of our sample, the plane can be turned into an effective mass predictor. When the full sample is considered, masses are predicted less accurately than with the well-known M-sigma relation. If obscured AGN are excluded, the plane is potentially a better predictor than other scaling measures.