arXiv · astro-ph/0310435
An Intermediate-Mass Black Hole in the Dwarf Seyfert 1 Galaxy POX 52
Abstract
We describe new observations of POX 52, a previously known but nearly forgotten example of a dwarf galaxy with an active nucleus. While POX 52 was originally thought to be a Seyfert 2 galaxy, the new data reveal an emission-line spectrum very similar to that of the dwarf Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4395, with clear broad components to the permitted line profiles. The host galaxy appears to be a dwarf elliptical; this is the only known case of a Seyfert nucleus in a galaxy of this type. Applying scaling relations to estimate the black hole mass from the broad H-beta linewidth and continuum luminosity, we find M_BH ~ 1.6x10^5 solar masses. The stellar velocity dispersion in the host galaxy is 36+/-5 km/s, also suggestive of a black hole mass of order 10^5 solar masses. Further searches for AGNs in dwarf galaxies can provide crucial constraints on the demographics of black holes in the mass range below 10^6 solar masses.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
A. J. Barth, L. C. Ho, W. L. W. Sargent. 2003-10-15. An Intermediate-Mass Black Hole in the Dwarf Seyfert 1 Galaxy POX 52. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310435
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.