Ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy of NGC 5548 and the nature of the broad-line region

Abstract

The structure of the broad-line region in NGC 5548 is investigated by analysis of the integrated flux and profile variations observed in optical and ultraviolet emission lines. It is shown that the observations do not appear to be consistent with models which identify the variable part of the emission lines with a simple rotating disk structure. The variable continuum, and integrated emission-line fluxes are highly correlated and suggest a small broad-line region (18 light days = 5 x 10 to the 16th cm), although the size of the line-emitting region is not well-determined. At least some of the broad emission arises in a component which at times appears very prominently and distinctly in difference spectra. This emission component appears to arise in a region which is physically distinct from the rest of the broad-line region. Although the integrated fluxes in the various optical and ultraviolet emission lines seem to vary together, there clearly are differences between the profiles of various lines, which suggests that there is at least some ionization stratification within the broad-line region.