S22B0021
S22B0021
The theory of supermassive black hole mergers is still not fully able to explain how two SMBHs reach the distance at which energy losses via gravitational waves become important. Merging BHs may emit gravitational waves anisotropically, and the merged black hole may receive a recoil kick. Observational evidence of galaxies hosting recoiling BHs would provide unconfutable evidence that SMBHs do indeed merge. This proposal focuses on the excellent recoiling BH candidate associated with the QSO 3C186 (z=1.07). HST images show that the QSO is offset from the host galaxy by ∼11 kpc. The broad emission lines (directly associated with the SMBH) are blue-shifted by ∼2000 km/s with respect to the narrow lines (produced by the gas in the host). The line shapes are complex, and evidence is based on relatively low S/N spectra with lines that are heavily blended, leaving room for alternative (though disfavored) interpretations. A high-quality SWIMS spectrum will cover the entire wavelength range at 0.9 to 2.5 µm and detect the critical lines, including the key Hβ line, at the sufficient sensitivity for us to securely determine the kinematical properties of the system. One-night observation with SWIMS on Subaru will lead to the first confirmation of a gravitational wave recoiling SMBH.
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.