HST FOS spectroscopy of M87: Evidence for a disk of ionized gas around a massive black hole

Richard J. Harms; Holland C. Ford; Zlatan I. Tsvetanov; George F. Hartig; Linda L. Dressel; Gerard A. Kriss; Ralph Bohlin; Arthur F. Davidsen; Bruce Margon; Ajay K. Kochhar

doi:10.1086/187588

HST FOS spectroscopy of M87: Evidence for a disk of ionized gas around a massive black hole

Richard J. Harms^*, Holland C. Ford, Zlatan I. Tsvetanov, George F. Hartig, Linda L. Dressel, Gerard A. Kriss, Ralph Bohlin, Arthur F. Davidsen, Bruce Margon, Ajay K. Kochhar

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe the central region of M87, we have obtained spectra covering ∼4600-6800 Å at a spectral dispersion ∼4.4 Å per resolution element through the 0″.26 diameter entrance aperture. One spectrum was obtained centered on the nucleus of M87 and two centered 0″.25 off the nucleus at position angles of 21° and 201°, thus sampling the anticipated major axis of the disklike structure (described in a companion Letter) expected to he approximately perpendicular to the axis of the M87 jet. Pointing errors for these observations are estimated to be less than 0″.02. Radial velocities of the ionized gas in the two positions 0″.25 on either side of the nucleus are measured to be ≈ ± 500 km s^-1 relative to the M87 systemic velocity. These observations plus emission-line spectra obtained at two additional locations near the nucleus show the ionized gas to be in Keplerian rotation about a mass M = (2.4 ± 0.7) × 10⁹ M_⊙ within the inner 0″.25 of M87. Our results provide strong evidence for the presence of a supermassive nuclear black hole in M87.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L35-L38
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	435
Issue number	1 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/187588
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 1994
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Black hole physics
Galaxies: individual (M87)
Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics
Instrumentation: spectrographs

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10.1086/187588

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@article{548d890d8f244ad69fbb220cf4477cfb,

title = "HST FOS spectroscopy of M87: Evidence for a disk of ionized gas around a massive black hole",

abstract = "Using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe the central region of M87, we have obtained spectra covering ∼4600-6800 {\AA} at a spectral dispersion ∼4.4 {\AA} per resolution element through the 0″.26 diameter entrance aperture. One spectrum was obtained centered on the nucleus of M87 and two centered 0″.25 off the nucleus at position angles of 21° and 201°, thus sampling the anticipated major axis of the disklike structure (described in a companion Letter) expected to he approximately perpendicular to the axis of the M87 jet. Pointing errors for these observations are estimated to be less than 0″.02. Radial velocities of the ionized gas in the two positions 0″.25 on either side of the nucleus are measured to be ≈ ± 500 km s-1 relative to the M87 systemic velocity. These observations plus emission-line spectra obtained at two additional locations near the nucleus show the ionized gas to be in Keplerian rotation about a mass M = (2.4 ± 0.7) × 109 M⊙ within the inner 0″.25 of M87. Our results provide strong evidence for the presence of a supermassive nuclear black hole in M87.",

keywords = "Black hole physics, Galaxies: individual (M87), Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics, Instrumentation: spectrographs",

author = "Harms, {Richard J.} and Ford, {Holland C.} and Tsvetanov, {Zlatan I.} and Hartig, {George F.} and Dressel, {Linda L.} and Kriss, {Gerard A.} and Ralph Bohlin and Davidsen, {Arthur F.} and Bruce Margon and Kochhar, {Ajay K.}",

year = "1994",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/187588",

language = "English",

volume = "435",

pages = "L35--L38",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - HST FOS spectroscopy of M87

T2 - Evidence for a disk of ionized gas around a massive black hole

AU - Harms, Richard J.

AU - Ford, Holland C.

AU - Tsvetanov, Zlatan I.

AU - Hartig, George F.

AU - Dressel, Linda L.

AU - Kriss, Gerard A.

AU - Bohlin, Ralph

AU - Davidsen, Arthur F.

AU - Margon, Bruce

AU - Kochhar, Ajay K.

PY - 1994/11/1

Y1 - 1994/11/1

N2 - Using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe the central region of M87, we have obtained spectra covering ∼4600-6800 Å at a spectral dispersion ∼4.4 Å per resolution element through the 0″.26 diameter entrance aperture. One spectrum was obtained centered on the nucleus of M87 and two centered 0″.25 off the nucleus at position angles of 21° and 201°, thus sampling the anticipated major axis of the disklike structure (described in a companion Letter) expected to he approximately perpendicular to the axis of the M87 jet. Pointing errors for these observations are estimated to be less than 0″.02. Radial velocities of the ionized gas in the two positions 0″.25 on either side of the nucleus are measured to be ≈ ± 500 km s-1 relative to the M87 systemic velocity. These observations plus emission-line spectra obtained at two additional locations near the nucleus show the ionized gas to be in Keplerian rotation about a mass M = (2.4 ± 0.7) × 109 M⊙ within the inner 0″.25 of M87. Our results provide strong evidence for the presence of a supermassive nuclear black hole in M87.

AB - Using the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe the central region of M87, we have obtained spectra covering ∼4600-6800 Å at a spectral dispersion ∼4.4 Å per resolution element through the 0″.26 diameter entrance aperture. One spectrum was obtained centered on the nucleus of M87 and two centered 0″.25 off the nucleus at position angles of 21° and 201°, thus sampling the anticipated major axis of the disklike structure (described in a companion Letter) expected to he approximately perpendicular to the axis of the M87 jet. Pointing errors for these observations are estimated to be less than 0″.02. Radial velocities of the ionized gas in the two positions 0″.25 on either side of the nucleus are measured to be ≈ ± 500 km s-1 relative to the M87 systemic velocity. These observations plus emission-line spectra obtained at two additional locations near the nucleus show the ionized gas to be in Keplerian rotation about a mass M = (2.4 ± 0.7) × 109 M⊙ within the inner 0″.25 of M87. Our results provide strong evidence for the presence of a supermassive nuclear black hole in M87.

KW - Black hole physics

KW - Galaxies: individual (M87)

KW - Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics

KW - Instrumentation: spectrographs

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DO - 10.1086/187588

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VL - 435

SP - L35-L38

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART 2

ER -

HST FOS spectroscopy of M87: Evidence for a disk of ionized gas around a massive black hole

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