Theoretical Models of Multi-waveband QSO Luminosity Functions

Abstract

Cosmological evolution of the QSO luminosity functions (LFs) at NIR/optical/X-ray bands for 1.3 < z < 3.5 is investigated based on the realistic QSO spectra. The accretion-disk theory predicts that although QSO luminosities only depend on mass-accretion rate, \Mdot, QSO spectra have a dependence on black-hole mass, M_{BH}, as well. The smaller M_{BH} is and/or the larger \Mdot is, the harder becomes the QSO NIR/optical/UV spectrum. We model disk spectra which can reproduce these features and calculated LFs for redshift z ~ 3 with the assumption of new-born QSOs being shining at the Eddington luminosity. The main results are: (i) the observed LFs at optical and X-rays can be simultaneously reproduced. (ii) LFs at optical and X-ray bands are not sensitive to M_{BH}, while LFs at NIR bands are; about one order of magnitude difference is expected in volume number densities at L_{I, J} ~ 10^{46} erg s^{-1} between the case that all QSOs would have the same spectral shape as that of M_{BH} = 10^{9} M_sun and the case with M_{BH} = 10^{11} M_sun. (iii) The resultant LFs at NIR are dominated by 10^{7} M_sun black-holes at L_{I, J} ~ 10^{44} erg s^{-1}, and by 10^{11} M_sun black-holes at L_{I, J} \~ 10^{46} erg s^{-1}. Future infrared observations from space(e.g.NGST) will probe cosmological evolution of black hole masses. For redshift z < 3, on the other hand, the observed optical/X-ray LFs can be fitted, if the initial QSO luminosity L_0 is below the Eddington luminosity. Interestingly, the best fitting values of l = L_0/L_{Edd} are different in B- and X-ray bands; l_B ~ 2.5 l_X. The reason for this discrepancy is briefly discussed.