Evidence for obscured broad [O iii] components in Type-2 AGN

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the manuscript, we report evidence on broad [O iii] components apparently obscured in Type-2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) under the framework of the unified model, after checking properties of broad [O iii] emissions in large samples of Type-1 and Type-2 AGN in Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR12. We can well confirm the statistically lower flux ratios of the broad to the core [O iii] components in Type-2 AGN than in Type-1 AGN, which can be naturally explained by stronger obscured broad [O iii] components by central dust torus in Type-2 AGN, unless the unified model for AGN was not appropriate to the narrow emission lines. The results provide further evidence to support broad [O iii] components coming from emission regions nearer to central BHs, and also indicate the core [O iii] component as the better indicator for central activities in Type-2 AGN, due to few effects of obscuration on the core [O iii] component. Considering the broad [O iii] components as signs of central outflows, the results provide evidence for strong central outflows being preferentially obscured in Type-2 AGN. Furthermore, the obscured broad [O iii] component can be applied to explain the different flux ratios of [O iii]λ5007Å/H β between Type-1 and Type-2 AGN in the BPT diagram.