Detection of faint broad emission lines in type 2 AGNs – III. On the <i>M</i>BH-σ⋆ relation of type 2 AGNs

Abstract

Abstract Type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) represent the majority of the AGN population. However, due to the difficulties in measuring their black hole (BH) masses, it is still unknown whether they follow the same BH mass–host galaxy scaling relations valid for quiescent galaxies and type 1 AGNs. Here, we present the locus of type 2 AGNs having virial BH mass estimates in the MBH-σ⋆ plane. Our analysis shows that the BH masses of type 2 AGNs are ∼0.9 dex smaller than type 1 AGNs at σ⋆ ∼ 185 km s−1, regardless of the (early/late) AGN host galaxy morphology. Equivalently, type 2 AGN host galaxies have stellar velocity dispersions ∼0.2 dex higher than type 1 AGN hosts at MBH ∼ 107 M⊙.