Comparing High and Low Redshift Quasar Properties: Black Hole Masses and Eddington Ratios

Black hole mass and Eddington ratio estimates for quasars are of fundamental interest to astrophysicists and cosmologists. Comparisons of high and low redshift quasar properties are of special interest. Past comparisons have been unreliable because estimates are based upon measures of different emission lines in different redshift ranges. Are all broad emission lines valid virial estimators? Evidence suggests not motivating us to follow Hbeta into the infrared using VLT ISAAC spectroscopy. We report on our VLT survey and subsequent comparison of sources out to z~~3.

 

Date: 
21/05/2009 - 14:00
Speaker: 
Jack Sulentic
Filiation: 
University of Alabama / Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía - CSIC


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