Biases in Virial Black Hole Masses: An SDSS Perspective

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 680; no. 1; pp. 169 - 190
• Main Authors: Shen, Yue, Greene, Jenny E, Strauss, Michael A, Richards, Gordon T, Schneider, Donald P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL IOP Publishing 10.06.2008; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Active galaxies; Quasars; Red shift; quasars: general; black hole physics; Black holes; galaxies: active; surveys; Cosmology; Virial mass; galaxies: fundamental parameters; galaxies: high-redshift

We compile black hole (BH) masses for [image]60,000 quasars in the redshift range [image] included in the Fifth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, using virial BH mass estimators based on the H beta , Mg ii, and C iv emission lines. Within our sample, the widths of the three lines follow...