Dwarf galaxies might not be the birth sites of supermassive black holes

TL;DR

This paper questions the assumption that dwarf galaxies' intermediate-mass black holes are reliable indicators of early seed black holes, considering the effects of galaxy mergers and feedback on their growth.

Contribution

It challenges the traditional view by analyzing how galaxy mergers and feedback influence black hole growth in dwarf galaxies.

Findings

Galaxy mergers can significantly alter black hole growth trajectories.

Black hole feedback may suppress or enhance black hole growth in dwarf galaxies.

Intermediate-mass black holes in dwarf galaxies are not straightforward relics of early seed black holes.

Abstract

Intermediate-mass black holes (BHs) in local dwarf galaxies are considered the relics of the early seed BHs. However, their growth might have been impacted by galaxy mergers and BH feedback so that they cannot be treated as tracers of the early seed BH population.