Supermassive Black Hole Studies With The Lsst

Abstract

Data from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will enable multiple breakthrough investigations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) as well as typically dormant supermassive black holes (SMBHs). I will describe how the decade-long LSST main survey will discover at least 20 million AGNs across 18,000 deg^2, obtaining 60-180 visits per source for each of the ugrizy filters. Several extragalactic LSST Deep-Drilling Fields will provide even deeper coverage and denser temporal sampling for about a hundred thousand AGNs. Efficient AGN identification from z = 0-7.5 will be possible via a combination of techniques: color selection, variability selection, lack of proper motion, differential chromatic refraction patterns, and multiwavelength matching. I will also describe a few of the prime SMBH science investigations that LSST will enable including (1) massive investigations of AGN variability, (2) studies of transient SMBH fueling events, and (3) the identification of large AGN samples at high redshifts.