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At least 253 records · Page 14

Denser sampling of the Rosette Nebula with Faraday rotation measurements: Improved estimates of magnetic fields in H ii regions

We report Faraday rotation measurements of 11 extragalactic radio sources with lines of sight through the Rosette Nebula, a prominent H ii region associated with the star cluster NGC 2244. The goal of these measurements is to better determine the strength and structure of the magnetic field in the nebula. We calculate the rotation measure (RM) through two methods, a least-squares fit to χ(λ{sup 2}) and Rotation Measure Synthesis. In conjunction with our results from Savage et al., we find an excess RM due to the shell of the nebula of +40 to +1200 rad m{sup −2} above a background RM of +147 rad m{sup −2}. We discuss two forms of a simple shell model intended to reproduce the magnitude of the observed RM as a function of distance from the center of the Rosette Nebula. The models represent different physical situations for the magnetic field within the shell of the nebula. The first assumes that there is an increase in the magnetic field strength and plasma density at the outer radius of the H ii region, such as would be produced by a strong magnetohydrodynamic shock wave. The second model assumes that any increase in the RM is due solely to an increase in the density, and the Galactic magnetic field is unaffected in the shell. We employ a Bayesian analysis to compare the two forms of the model. The results of this analysis were inconclusive, although the model without amplification of the interstellar magnetic field is weakly favored.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The next generation virgo cluster survey (NGVS). XIII. The luminosity and mass function of galaxies in the core of the virgo cluster and the contribution from disrupted satellites

We present measurements of the galaxy luminosity and stellar mass function in a 3.71 deg{sup 2} (0.3 Mpc{sup 2}) area in the core of the Virgo Cluster, based on u{sup ∗} griz data from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). The galaxy sample—which consists of 352 objects brighter than M {sub g} = −9.13 mag, the 50% completeness limit of the survey—reaches 2.2 mag deeper than the widely used Virgo Cluster Catalog and at least 1.2 mag deeper than any sample previously used to measure the luminosity function in Virgo. Using a Bayesian analysis, we find a best-fit faint-end slope of α = −1.33 ± 0.02 for the g-band luminosity function; consistent results are found for the stellar mass function and the luminosity function in the other four NGVS bandpasses. We discuss the implications for the faint-end slope of adding 92 ultracompact dwarfs (UCDs)—previously compiled by the NGVS in this region—to the galaxy sample, assuming that UCDs are the stripped remnants of nucleated dwarf galaxies. Under this assumption, the slope of the luminosity function (down to the UCD faint magnitude limit, M {sub g} = −9.6 mag) increases dramatically, up to α = −1.60 ± 0.06 when correcting for the expected number of disrupted non-nucleated galaxies. We also calculate the total number of UCDs and globular clusters that may have been deposited in the core of Virgo owing to the disruption of satellites, both nucleated and non-nucleated. We estimate that ∼150 objects with M {sub g} ≲ −9.6 mag and that are currently classified as globular clusters might, in fact, be the nuclei of disrupted galaxies. We further estimate that as many as 40% of the (mostly blue) globular clusters in the Virgo core might once have belonged to such satellites; these same disrupted satellites might have contributed ∼40% of the total luminosity in galaxies observed in the core region today. Finally, we use an updated Local Group galaxy catalog to provide a new measurement of the luminosity function of Local Group satellites, α = −1.21 ± 0.05, which is only 1.7σ shallower than measured in the core of the Virgo Cluster.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OGLE-2012-BLG-0724Lb: a Saturn-mass planet around an M dwarf

We report the discovery of a planet by the microlensing method, OGLE-2012-BLG-0724Lb. Although the duration of the planetary signal for this event was one of the shortest seen for a planetary event, the anomaly was well covered thanks to high-cadence observations taken by the survey groups OGLE and MOA. By analyzing the light curve, this planetary system is found to have a mass ratio q=(1.58±0.15)×10{sup −3}. By conducting a Bayesian analysis, we estimate that the host star is an M dwarf with a mass of M{sub L}=0.29{sub −0.16}{sup +0.33} M{sub ⊙} located at D{sub L}=6.7{sub −1.2}{sup +1.1} kpc away from the Earth and the companion’s mass is m{sub P}=0.47{sub −0.26}{sup +0.54} M{sub Jup}. The projected planet–host separation is a{sub ⊥}=1.6{sub −0.3}{sup +0.4} AU. Because the lens–source relative proper motion is relatively high, future high-resolution images would detect the lens host star and determine the lens properties uniquely. This system is likely a Saturn-mass exoplanet around an M dwarf, and such systems are commonly detected by gravitational microlensing. This adds another example of a possible pileup of sub-Jupiters (0.2<m{sub P}/M{sub Jup}<1) in contrast to a lack of Jupiters (∼1--2 M{sub Jup}) around M dwarfs, supporting the prediction by core accretion models that Jupiter-mass or more massive planets are unlikely to form around M dwarfs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Bayesian mass estimates of the Milky Way: the dark and light sides of parameter assumptions

We present mass and mass profile estimates for the Milky Way (MW) Galaxy using the Bayesian analysis developed by Eadie et al. and using globular clusters (GCs) as tracers of the Galactic potential. The dark matter and GCs are assumed to follow different spatial distributions; we assume power-law model profiles and use the model distribution functions described in Evans et al. and Deason et al. We explore the relationships between assumptions about model parameters and how these assumptions affect mass profile estimates. We also explore how using subsamples of the GC population beyond certain radii affect mass estimates. After exploring the posterior distributions of different parameter assumption scenarios, we conclude that a conservative estimate of the Galaxy’s mass within 125 kpc is 5.22×10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙}, with a 50% probability region of (4.79,5.63)×10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙}. Extrapolating out to the virial radius, we obtain a virial mass for the MW of 6.82×10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙} with 50% credible region of (6.06,7.53)×10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙}(r{sub vir}=185{sub −7}{sup +7} kpc). If we consider only the GCs beyond 10 kpc, then the virial mass is 9.02 (5.69,10.86)×10{sup 11} M{sub ⊙} (r{sub vir}=198{sub −24}{sup +19} kpc). We also arrive at an estimate of the velocity anisotropy parameter β of the GC population, which is β=0.28 with a 50% credible region (0.21, 0.35). Interestingly, the mass estimates are sensitive to both the dark matter halo potential and visible matter tracer parameters, but are not very sensitive to the anisotropy parameter.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The molecular baryon cycle of M82

Baryons cycle into galaxies from the intergalactic medium and are converted into stars; a fraction of the baryons are ejected out of galaxies by stellar feedback. Here we present new high-resolution (3.″9; 68 pc) {sup 12}CO(2–1) and {sup 12}CO(3–2) images that probe these three stages of the baryon cycle in the nearby starburst M82. We combine these new observations with previous {sup 12}CO(1–0) and [Fe ii] images to study the physical conditions within the molecular gas. Using a Bayesian analysis and the radiative transfer code RADEX, we model temperatures and densities of molecular hydrogen, as well as column densities of CO. Besides the disk, we concentrate on two regions within the galaxy: an expanding super-bubble and the base of a molecular streamer. Shock diagnostics, kinematics, and optical extinction suggest that the streamer is an inflowing filament, with a mass inflow rate of molecular gas of 3.5 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}. We measure the mass outflow rate of molecular gas of the expanding super-bubble to be 17 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, five times higher than the inferred inflow rate and 1.3 times the star formation rate of the galaxy. The high mass outflow rate and large star formation rate will deplete the galaxy of molecular gas within eight million years, unless there are additional sources of molecular gas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

MOA-2012-BLG-505Lb: A Super-Earth-mass Planet That Probably Resides in the Galactic Bulge

We report the discovery of a super-Earth-mass planet in the microlensing event MOA-2012-BLG-505. This event has the second shortest event timescale of t {sub E} = 10 ± 1 days where the observed data show evidence of a planetary companion. Our 15 minute high cadence survey observation schedule revealed the short subtle planetary signature. The system shows the well known close/wide degeneracy. The planet/host-star mass ratio is q = 2.1 × 10{sup −4} and the projected separation normalized by the Einstein radius is s = 1.1 or 0.9 for the wide and close solutions, respectively. We estimate the physical parameters of the system by using a Bayesian analysis and find that the lens consists of a super-Earth with a mass of 6.7{sub −3.6}{sup +10.7} M{sub ⊕} orbiting around a brown dwarf or late-M-dwarf host with a mass of 0.10{sub −0.05}{sup +0.16} M{sub ⊙} with a projected star–planet separation of 0.9{sub −0.2}{sup +0.3} au. The system is at a distance of 7.2 ± 1.1 kpc, i.e., it is likely to be in the Galactic bulge. The small angular Einstein radius (θ {sub E} = 0.12 ± 0.02 mas) and short event timescale are typical for a low-mass lens in the Galactic bulge. Such low-mass planetary systems in the Bulge are rare because the detection efficiency of planets in short microlensing events is relatively low. This discovery may suggest that such low-mass planetary systems are abundant in the Bulge and currently on-going high cadence survey programs will detect more such events and may reveal an abundance of such planetary systems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OGLE-2013-BLG-0132Lb and OGLE-2013-BLG-1721Lb: Two Saturn-mass Planets Discovered around M-dwarfs

We present the discovery of two planetary systems consisting of a Saturn-mass planet orbiting an M-dwarf, which were detected in faint microlensing events OGLE-2013-BLG-0132 and OGLE-2013-BLG-1721. The planetary anomalies were covered with high cadence by Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) and Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) photometric surveys. The light curve modeling indicates that the planet-to-host mass ratios are (5.15±0.28)×10{sup -4} and (13.18±0.72)×10{sup -4}, respectively. Both events were too short and too faint to measure a reliable parallax signal and hence the lens mass. We therefore used a Bayesian analysis to estimate the masses of both planets: 0.29{sub -0.13}{sup +0.16} M{sub Jup} (OGLE-2013-BLG-0132Lb) and 0.64{sub -0.31}{sup +0.35} M{sub Jup} (OGLE-2013-BLG-1721Lb). Thanks to a high relative proper motion, OGLE-2013-BLG-0132 is a promising candidate for the high-resolution imaging follow-up. Both planets belong to an increasing sample of sub-Jupiter-mass planets orbiting M-dwarfs beyond the snow line.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Two Jupiter-mass Planets Discovered by the KMTNet Survey in 2017

We report two microlensing events, KMT-2017-BLG-1038 and KMT-2017-BLG-1146, that are caused by planetary systems. These events were discovered by Korea Microlensing Telescope Network survey observations from the 2017 bulge season. The discovered systems consist of a planet and host star with mass ratios of 5.3{sub −0.4}{sup +0.2}×10{sup −3} and 2.0{sub −0.1}{sup +0.6}×10{sup −3}, respectively. Based on a Bayesian analysis assuming a Galactic model without stellar remnant hosts, we find that the planet KMT-2017-BLG-1038Lb is a super-Jupiter-mass planet (M{sub p} =2.04{sub −1.15}{sup +2.02} M{sub J}) orbiting a mid-M dwarf host (M{sub h}=0.37{sub −0.20}{sup +0.36} M{sub ⊙}) that is located at 6.01{sub −1.72}{sup +1.27} kpc toward the Galactic bulge. The other planet, KMT-2017-BLG-1146Lb, is a sub-Jupiter-mass planet (M{sub p}=0.71{sub −0.42}{sup +0.80} M{sub J}) orbiting a mid-M dwarf host (M{sub h}=0.33{sub −0.20}{sup +0.36} M{sub ⊙}) at a distance of 6.50{sub −2.00}{sup +1.38} kpc toward the Galactic bulge. Both are potentially gaseous planets that are beyond their hosts’ snow lines. These typical microlensing planets will be routinely discovered by second-generation microlensing surveys, rapidly increasing the number of detections.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Bayesian Characterization of Main-sequence Binaries in the Old Open Cluster NGC 188

The binary fractions of open and globular clusters yield powerful constraints on their dynamical state and evolutionary history. We apply publicly available Bayesian analysis tools to a UBV RIJHK {sub S} photometric catalog of the open cluster NGC 188 to detect and characterize photometric binaries along the cluster main sequence. This technique has the advantage of self-consistently handling photometric errors, missing data in various bandpasses, and star-by-star prior constraints on cluster membership. Simulations are used to verify uncertainties and quantify selection biases in our analysis, illustrating that among binaries with mass ratios >0.5, we recover the binary fraction to better than 7% in the mean, with no significant dependence on binary fraction and a mild dependence on assumed mass-ratio distribution. Using our photometric catalog, we recover the majority (65% ± 11%) of spectroscopically identified main-sequence binaries, including eight of the nine with spectroscopically measured mass ratios. Accounting for incompleteness and systematics, we derive a mass-ratio distribution that rises toward lower mass ratios (within our q > 0.5 analysis domain). We observe a raw binary fraction for solar-type main-sequence stars with mass ratios q > 0.5 of 42% ± 4%, independent of the assumed mass-ratio distribution to within its uncertainties, consistent with literature values for old open clusters but significantly higher than the field solar-type binary fraction. We confirm that the binaries identified by our method are more concentrated than single stars, in agreement with previous studies, and we demonstrate that the binary nature of those candidates that remain unidentified spectroscopically is strongly supported by photometry from Gaia DR2.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

KMT-2016-BLG-1836Lb: A Super-Jovian Planet from a High-cadence Microlensing Field

We report the discovery of a super-Jovian planet in the microlensing event KMT-2016-BLG-1836, which was found by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) high-cadence observations (Γ~4 hr -1 ). The planet–host mass ratio q ~ 0.004. A Bayesian analysis indicates that the planetary system is composed of a super-Jovian M{ planet =2.2 -1.1 +1.9 M J planet orbiting an M or K dwarf, M{ host =0.49 -0.25 0.38 M ⊙ , at a distance of D L =7.1 -2.4} +0.8 kpc. The projected planet–host separation is 3.5 -0.9 +1.1 au, implying that the planet is located beyond the snow line of the host star. Future high-resolution images can potentially strongly constrain the lens brightness and thus the mass and distance of the planetary system. Without considering detailed detection efficiency, selection, or publication biases, we find a potential mass-ratio desert at -3.7 ≲ log q ≲ -3.0 for the 31 published KMTNet planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

OGLE-2018-BLG-1269Lb: A Jovian Planet with a Bright I = 16 Host

We report the discovery of a planet in the microlensing event OGLE-2018-BLG-1269 with a planet–host mass ratio q ∼ 6 × 10{sup −4}, i.e., 0.6 times smaller than the Jupiter/Sun mass ratio. Combined with the Gaia parallax and proper motion, a strong one-dimensional constraint on the microlens parallax vector allows us to significantly reduce the uncertainties of lens physical parameters. A Bayesian analysis that ignores any information about light from the host yields that the planet is a cold giant (M{sub 2}=0.69{sub −0.22}{sup +0.44} M{sub J}) orbiting a Sun-like star (M{sub 1}=1.13{sub −0.35}{sup +0.72} M{sub ⊙}) at a distance of D{sub L}=2.56{sub −0.62}{sup +0.92} kpc. The projected planet–host separation is a{sub ⊥}=4.61{sub −1.17}{sup +1.70} au. Using Gaia astrometry, we show that the blended light lies ≲12 mas from the host and therefore must be either the host star or a stellar companion to the host. An isochrone analysis favors the former possibility at >99.6%. The host is therefore a subgiant. For host metallicities in the range of 0.0⩽[Fe/H]⩽+0.3, the host and planet masses are then in the range of 1.16⩽M{sub 1}/M{sub ⊙}⩽1.38 and 0.74⩽M{sub 2}/M{sub J}⩽0.89, respectively. Low host metallicities are excluded. The brightness and proximity of the lens make the event a strong candidate for spectroscopic follow-up both to test the microlensing solution and to further characterize the system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

New Determination of Fundamental Properties of Palomar 5 Using Deep DESI Imaging Data

The legacy imaging surveys for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument project provides multiple-color photometric data, which are about 2 mag deeper than those from the SDSS. In this study, we redetermine the fundamental properties for an old halo globular cluster of Palomar 5 based on these new imaging data, including structure parameters, stellar population parameters, and luminosity and mass functions. These characteristics, together with its tidal tails, are key for dynamical studies of the cluster and constraining the mass model of the Milky Way. By fitting the King model to the radial surface density profile of Palomar 5, we derive the core radius of [[Formula]], tidal radius of [[Formula]], and concentration parameter of c = 0.78 ± 0.04. We apply a Bayesian analysis method to derive the stellar population properties and get an age of 11.508 ± 0.027 Gyr, metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.798 ± 0.014, reddening of E(B − V) = 0.0552 ± 0.0005, and distance modulus of (m−M){sub 0} = 16.835±0.006. The main-sequence luminosity and mass functions for both the cluster center and tidal tails are investigated. The luminosity and mass functions at different distances from the cluster center suggest that there is obvious spatial mass segregation. Many faint low-mass stars have been evaporated at the cluster center, and the tidal tails are enhanced by low-mass stars. Both the concentration and relaxation times suggest that Palomar 5 is a totally relaxed system.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Host Star Metallicity of Directly Imaged Wide-orbit Planets: Implications for Planet Formation

Directly imaged planets (DIPs) are self-luminous companions of pre-main-sequence and young main-sequence stars. They reside in wider orbits (∼tens to thousands of astronomical units) and generally are more massive compared to the close-in (≲10 au) planets. Determining the host star properties of these outstretched planetary systems is important to understand and discern various planet formation and evolution scenarios. We present the stellar parameters and metallicity ([Fe/H]) for a subsample of 18 stars known to host planets discovered by the direct imaging technique. We retrieved the high-resolution spectra for these stars from public archives and used the synthetic spectral fitting technique and Bayesian analysis to determine the stellar properties in a uniform and consistent way. For eight sources, the metallicities are reported for the first time, while the results are consistent with the previous estimates for the other sources. Our analysis shows that metallicities of stars hosting DIPs are close to solar with a mean [Fe/H] = −0.04 ± 0.27 dex. The large scatter in metallicity suggests that a metal-rich environment may not be necessary to form massive planets at large orbital distances. We also find that the planet mass–host star metallicity relation for the directly imaged massive planets in wide orbits is very similar to that found for the well-studied population of short-period (≲1 yr) super-Jupiters and brown dwarfs around main-sequence stars.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

KMT-2019-BLG-1715: Planetary Microlensing Event with Three Lens Masses and Two Source Stars

We investigate the gravitational microlensing event KMT-2019-BLG-1715, the light curve of which shows two short-term anomalies from a caustic-crossing binary-lensing light curve: one with a large deviation and the other with a small deviation. We identify five pairs of solutions, in which the anomalies are explained by adding an extra lens or source component in addition to the base binary-lens model. We resolve the degeneracies by applying a method in which the measured flux ratio between the first and second source stars is compared with the flux ratio deduced from the ratio of the source radii. Applying this method leaves a single pair of viable solutions, in both of which the major anomaly is generated by a planetary-mass third body of the lens, and the minor anomaly is generated by a faint second source. A Bayesian analysis indicates that the lens comprises three masses: a planet-mass object with ∼2.6 M {sub J} and binary stars of K and M dwarfs lying in the galactic disk. We point out the possibility that the lens is the blend, and this can be verified by conducting high-resolution follow-up imaging for the resolution of the lens from the source.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

MOA-2007-BLG-400 A Super-Jupiter-mass Planet Orbiting a Galactic Bulge K-dwarf Revealed by Keck Adaptive Optics Imaging

We present Keck/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging of planetary microlensing event MOA-2007-BLG-400 that resolves the lens star system from the source. We find that the MOA-2007-BLG-400L planetary system consists of a 1.71 ± 0.27M {sub Jup} planet orbiting a 0.69 ± 0.04M {sub ⊙} K-dwarf host star at a distance of 6.89 ± 0.77 kpc from the Sun. So, this planetary system probably resides in the Galactic bulge. The planet–host star projected separation is only weakly constrained due to the close-wide light-curve degeneracy; the 2σ projected separation ranges are 0.6–1.0 au and 4.7–7.7 au for close and wide solutions, respectively. This host mass is at the top end of the range of masses predicted by a standard Bayesian analysis. Our Keck follow-up program has now measured lens-source separations for six planetary microlensing events, and five of these six events have host star masses above the median prediction under the assumption that assumes that all stars have an equal chance of hosting planets detectable by microlensing. This suggests that more massive stars may be more likely to host planets of a fixed mass ratio that orbit near or beyond the snow line. These results also indicate the importance of host star mass measurements for exoplanets found by microlensing. The microlensing survey imaging data from NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (formerly WFIRST) mission will be doing mass measurements like this for a huge number of planetary events.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search. I. OGLE-2019-BLG-1053Lb, a Buried Terrestrial Planet

In order to exhume the buried signatures of “missing planetary caustics” in Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) data, we conducted a systematic anomaly search of the residuals from point-source point-lens fits, based on a modified version of the KMTNet EventFinder algorithm. This search revealed the lowest-mass-ratio planetary caustic to date in the microlensing event OGLE-2019-BLG-1053, for which the planetary signal had not been noticed before. The planetary system has a planet–host mass ratio of q = (1.25 ± 0.13) × 10{sup -5}. A Bayesian analysis yielded estimates of the mass of the host star, M{sub host}=0.61{sub -0.24}{sup +0.29} M{sub ⊙}, the mass of its planet, M{sub planet}=2.48{sub -0.98}{sup +1.19} M{sub ⊕}, the projected planet–host separation, a{sub ⊥}=3.4{sub -0.5}{sup +0.5} au, and the lens distance, D{sub L}=6.8{sub -0.9}{sup +0.6} kpc. The discovery of this very-low-mass-ratio planet illustrates the utility of our method and opens a new window for a large and homogeneous sample to study the microlensing planet–host mass ratio function down to q ~ 10{sup -5}.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Signatures of Recent Cosmic-Ray Acceleration in the High-latitude Gamma-Ray Sky

Cosmic-ray (CR) sources temporarily enhance the relativistic particle density in their vicinity over the background distribution accumulated from the Galaxy-wide past injection activity and propagation. If individual sources are close enough to the solar system, their localized enhancements may present as features in the measured spectra of the CRs and in the associated secondary electromagnetic emissions. Large-scale loop-like structures visible in the radio sky are possible signatures of such nearby CR sources. If so, these loops may also have counterparts in the high-latitude γ-ray sky. Using ~10 yr of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope, applying Bayesian analysis including Gaussian Processes, we search for extended enhanced emission associated with putative nearby CR sources in the energy range from 1 GeV to 1 TeV for the sky region |b| > 30°. We carefully control the systematic uncertainty due to imperfect knowledge of the interstellar gas distribution. Radio Loop IV is identified for the first time as a γ-ray emitter, and we also find significant emission from Loop I. Furthermore, strong evidence is found for asymmetric features about the Galactic l = 0° meridian that may be associated with parts of the so-called "Fermi Bubbles," and some evidence is also found for γ-ray emission from other radio loops. Implications for the CRs producing the features and possible locations of the sources of the emissions are discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Preferential Growth Channel for Supermassive Black Holes in Elliptical Galaxies at z ≲ 2

The assembly of stellar and supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass in elliptical galaxies since z ~ 1 can help to diagnose the origins of locally observed correlations between SMBH mass and stellar mass. We therefore construct three samples of elliptical galaxies, one at z ~ 0 and two at 0.7 ≲ z ≲ 2.5, and quantify their relative positions in the M BH -M * plane. Using a Bayesian analysis framework, we find evidence for translational offsets in both stellar mass and SMBH mass between the local sample and both higher-redshift samples. The offsets in stellar mass are small, and consistent with measurement bias, but the offsets in SMBH mass are much larger, reaching a factor of 7 between z ~ 1 and z ~ 0. The magnitude of the SMBH offset may also depend on redshift, reaching a factor of ~20 at z ~ 2. The result is robust against variation in the high- and low-redshift samples and changes in the analysis approach. The magnitude and redshift evolution of the offset are challenging to explain in terms of selection and measurement biases. We conclude that either there is a physical mechanism that preferentially grows SMBHs in elliptical galaxies at z ≲ 2, or that selection and measurement biases are both underestimated, and depend on redshift.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗