Black hole growth and host galaxy morphology

TL;DR

This study reveals that the relationship between black hole growth and galaxy morphology varies with black hole mass, showing opposite trends in early- and late-type galaxies, based on large survey data.

Contribution

It demonstrates a fundamental link between galaxy morphology and black hole growth patterns, highlighting contrasting trends in early- and late-type galaxies.

Findings

Early-type galaxies with active black holes decrease as black hole mass increases.

Late-type galaxies with active black holes increase as black hole mass increases.

Black hole growth patterns are strongly connected to host galaxy morphology.

Abstract

We use data from large surveys of the local Universe (SDSS+Galaxy Zoo) to show that the galaxy-black hole connection is linked to host morphology at a fundamental level. The fraction of early-type galaxies with actively growing black holes, and therefore the AGN duty cycle, declines significantly with increasing black hole mass. Late-type galaxies exhibit the opposite trend: the fraction of actively growing black holes increases with black hole mass.