In Search of the Largest Velocity Dispersion Galaxies

Abstract

We present Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) observations for galaxies at redshift z < 0.3 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) showing large velocity dispersions while appearing to be single galaxies in HST images. The high signal-to-noise HET spectra provide more definitive velocity dispersions. The maximum velocity dispersion we find is 444 km/s. Emission-line widths in QSOs indicate that black holes can exist with masses exceeding 5 billion solar masses, implying velocity dispersions greater than 500 km/s by the local black hole mass - velocity dispersion relationship. This suggests either that QSO black hole masses are overestimated or that the black hole - bulge relationship changes at high black hole mass. The latter option is consistent with evidence that the increase in velocity dispersion with luminosity levels off for the brightest elliptical galaxies.

18 pages, 5 figures, accepted to ApJ

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• Strong Optical and UV Intermediate-Width Emission Lines in the Quasar SDSS J232444.80-094600.3: Dust-Free and Intermediate-Density Gas at the Skin of Dusty Torus ?