"Under-massive" black hole candidates

However, dramatic revisions to the M_bh_-M_sph,*_ and M_bh_-L_sph_ relations, based on samples containing predominantly inactive galaxies, have recently identified a new steeper relation at M_bh_<~(2-10)x10^8^M_{sun}_, roughly corresponding to M_sph,*_<~(0.3-1)x10^11^M_{sun}_.

We show that this steeper, quadratic-like M_bh_-M_sph,*_ relation defined by the Sersic galaxies, i.e., galaxies without partially depleted cores, roughly tracks the apparent offset of the AGN having 10^5^<~M_bh_/M_{sun}_<~0.5x10^8^. That is, these AGNs are not randomly offset with low black hole masses, but also follow a steeper (nonlinear) relation. As noted by Busch et al. (2014, J/A+A/561/A140), confirmation or rejection of a possible AGN offset from the steeper M_bh_-M _sph,*_ relation defined by the Sersic galaxies will benefit from improved stellar mass-to-light ratios for the spheroids hosting these AGNs.