What is the origin of the JWST SMBHs?

TL;DR

This paper introduces a semi-analytical model for galaxy and SMBH evolution that aligns with JWST and earlier observations, exploring seed mass origins and merger efficiencies.

Contribution

It develops a new model based on Press-Schechter formalism that reproduces observed SMBH and galaxy relations across different datasets.

Findings

High merger efficiency favors light SMBH seeds with JWST data.

Lower merger efficiency (~0.1) supports heavy seeds and fits PTA GW background.

Model successfully matches both JWST and pre-JWST observations.

Abstract

We present a new semi-analytical model for the evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes (SMBHs) that is based on the extended Press-Schechter formalism and phenomenological modelling of star formation. The model yields BH mass-stellar mass relations that reproduce both the JWST and pre-JWST observations. If the efficiency for BH mergers is high the JWST data prefer light seeds while the pre-JWST data prefers heavy seeds. The fit improves for a smaller merger efficiency, $O(0.1)$, for which both data prefer heavy seeds, while also accommodating the PTA GW background data.