Estimating supermassive black hole masses in active galactic nuclei using polarization of broad Mg ii, H α, and H β lines

Abstract

ABSTRACT For type-1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) for which the equatorial scattering is the dominant broad-line polarization mechanism, it is possible to measure the supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass by tracing the Keplerian motion across the polarization plane position angle φ. So far, this method has been used for 30 objects but only for H α emission line. We explore the possibilities of this method for determining SMBH masses using polarization in broad emission lines by applying it for the first time to Mg ii λ2798 Å spectral line. We use three-dimensional (3-D) Monte Carlo radiative transfer code stokes for simultaneous modelling of equatorial scattering of H α, H β, and Mg ii lines. We included vertical inflows and outflows in the Mg ii broad-line region (BLR). We find that polarization states of H α and H β lines are almost identical and SMBH-mass estimates differ by 7 per cent. For Mg ii line, we find that φ exhibits an additional ‘plateau’ with a constant φ, which deviates than the profiles expected for pure Keplerian motion. SMBH-mass estimates using Mg ii line are higher by up to 35 per cent than those obtained from H α and H β lines. Our model shows that for vertical inflows and outflows in the BLR that are higher or comparable to the Keplerian velocity, this method can be applied as a first approximation for obtaining SMBH mass.