Quasar Mass Functions Across Cosmic Time

TL;DR

This paper compiles quasar black hole mass functions across cosmic history, highlighting their significance and the methods used to determine black hole masses from various surveys.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of black hole mass functions over time and discusses the techniques for estimating black hole masses in quasars.

Findings

Mass functions vary across different cosmic epochs.

Methods for black hole mass estimation are summarized.

Implications for black hole growth and evolution are discussed.

Abstract

I present mass functions of actively accreting black holes detected in different quasar surveys which in concert cover a wide range of cosmic history. I briefly address what we learn from these mass functions. I summarize the motivation for such a study and the methods by which we determine black hole masses.