27^th Seminar (Part 2)

How Does Galaxy Environment Influence AGN Activity?

Emil Khabiboulline

Caltech, Kavli IPMU

Abstract

The development of virial mass estimates for the central black hole using one quasar spectrum has allowed a dramatic improvement in our understanding of supermassive black hole evolution. I will describe several new puzzles arising from the combination of virial masses with luminosity and redshift measurements, many of which are inconsistent with our current understanding of quasar evolution. I will also describe a new class of quasars that does not appear to fit easily into current models for quasar accretion.