Inferences on relations between distant supermassive black holes and their hosts complemented by the galaxy fundamental plane

Abstract

The realization of fundamental relations between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies would have profound implications in astrophysics. To add further context to studies of their co-evolution, an investigation is carried out to gain insight as to whether quasars and their hosts at earlier epochs follow the local relation between black hole (BH) mass and stellar velocity dispersion. We use 584 SDSS quasars at 0.2 < z < 0.8 with black hole measurements, and properties of their hosts from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program. An inference of the stellar velocity dispersion is achieved for each based on the stellar mass and size of the host galaxy by using the galaxy mass fundamental plane for inactive galaxies at similar redshifts. In agreement with past studies, quasars occupy an elevated position from the local M_BH-sigma relation, considered as a flattening, while maintaining ratios of M_BH/M* consistent with local values. Based on a forward-modeling of the sample, we demonstrate that an evolving intrinsic M_BH-sigma relation can match the observations. However, we hypothesize that these changes may be a reflection of a non-evolving intrinsic relationship between M_BH and M*. Reassuringly, there are signs of migration onto the local M_BH-sigma for galaxies that are either massive, quiescent or compact. Thus, the majority of the bulges of quasar hosts at high redshift are in a development stage and likely to align with their black holes onto the mass scaling relation at later times.