Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region
Line broadening and variability are observational hallmarks of active galactic nuclei (AGN) which allow us to measure supermassive black hole masses as well as constrain the geometry and kinematics of the emitting gas, with the most precise measurements requiring a degree of modeling. Two popular mo...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adda38 |
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| author | Kirk Long Jason Dexter |
| author_facet | Kirk Long Jason Dexter |
| author_sort | Kirk Long |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Line broadening and variability are observational hallmarks of active galactic nuclei (AGN) which allow us to measure supermassive black hole masses as well as constrain the geometry and kinematics of the emitting gas, with the most precise measurements requiring a degree of modeling. Two popular models of the broad-line region (BLR) describe the emitting gas as either a distribution of puffed-up clouds or a thin disk with strong velocity gradients. As we show in this work, key features in the reverberation mapping data set obtained by the AGN-STORM team in NGC 5548 cannot be accounted for by either simple model. In several emission lines the observed broad-line profile has a single peak yet the delay profile has a distinct double peak, strongly motivating a BLR with emission from multiple components. We demonstrate a few possibilities that may alleviate the tension and better represent the true nature of the broad-line-emitting gas in NGC 5548 and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d80b41a9c19b4e55b8fe01ff70136737 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-d80b41a9c19b4e55b8fe01ff701367372025-08-20T03:50:01ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01987219610.3847/1538-4357/adda38Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line RegionKirk Long0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8293-2185Jason Dexter1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3903-0373JILA, University of Colorado Boulder , USA ; kirk.long@colorado.eduJILA, University of Colorado Boulder , USA ; kirk.long@colorado.eduLine broadening and variability are observational hallmarks of active galactic nuclei (AGN) which allow us to measure supermassive black hole masses as well as constrain the geometry and kinematics of the emitting gas, with the most precise measurements requiring a degree of modeling. Two popular models of the broad-line region (BLR) describe the emitting gas as either a distribution of puffed-up clouds or a thin disk with strong velocity gradients. As we show in this work, key features in the reverberation mapping data set obtained by the AGN-STORM team in NGC 5548 cannot be accounted for by either simple model. In several emission lines the observed broad-line profile has a single peak yet the delay profile has a distinct double peak, strongly motivating a BLR with emission from multiple components. We demonstrate a few possibilities that may alleviate the tension and better represent the true nature of the broad-line-emitting gas in NGC 5548 and beyond.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adda38Active galactic nuclei |
| spellingShingle | Kirk Long Jason Dexter Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region The Astrophysical Journal Active galactic nuclei |
| title | Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region |
| title_full | Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region |
| title_fullStr | Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region |
| title_short | Reverberation Mapping Data of NGC 5548 Imply a Multicomponent Broad-line Region |
| title_sort | reverberation mapping data of ngc 5548 imply a multicomponent broad line region |
| topic | Active galactic nuclei |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adda38 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kirklong reverberationmappingdataofngc5548implyamulticomponentbroadlineregion AT jasondexter reverberationmappingdataofngc5548implyamulticomponentbroadlineregion |