Double-peaked Broad Emission Lines Research Articles

A candidate for central tidal disruption event in the broad line AGN SDSS J1605 with double-peaked broad H β

ABSTRACT In this letter, motivated by double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines probably related to tidal disruption events (TDEs), a potential TDE candidate is reported in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) J160536+134838 (=SDSS J1605) at z ∼ 0.44 having quasar-like spectrum but with double-peaked broad H β. The long-term Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) light curve can be naturally described by a main-sequence star of $2.82_{-0.19}^{+0.20}{\rm M_\odot }$ disrupted by the central black hole (BH) of $144_{-21}^{+26} \times 10^6{\rm M_\odot }$ in SDSS J1605. Meanwhile, the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae light curves afterwards show none apparent trend variability, indicating the bright CSS flare in SDSS J1605 unique and different enough from variability of normal active galactic nuclei (AGN). Furthermore, there is a consistency between the TDE model determined sizes of debris with the sizes of emission regions for the double-peaked broad H β described by the accretion disc model, supporting the disc-like broad emission line regions (BLRs) probably related to a central TDE in SDSS J1605. And the virial BH mass ∼7 times higher than the TDE model determined value can be naturally explained by R–L relation determined BLRs sizes very larger than the actual distance of emission regions related to TDEs debris in SDSS J1605. Although no clear conclusion on double-peaked broad lines absolutely related to TDEs, the results here provide clues to detect potential TDEs in AGN with double-peaked broad lines.

Modelling the flare in NGC 1097 from 1991 to 2004 as a tidal disruption event

ABSTRACT In the letter, interesting evidence is reported to support a central tidal disruption event (TDE) in the known AGN NGC 1097. Considering the motivations of TDE as one probable origination of emission materials of double-peaked broad emission lines and also as one probable explanation to changing-look AGN, it is interesting to check whether there are clues to support a TDE in NGC 1097, not only a changing-look AGN but also an AGN with double-peaked broad emission lines. Under the assumption that the onset of broad Hα emission was due to a TDE, the 13 yr-long (1991–2004) variability of double-peaked broad Hα line flux in NGC 1097 can be well predicted by theoretical TDE model, with a (1 − 1.5) M⊙ main-sequence star tidally disrupted by the central BH with TDE model determined mass about (5 − 8) × 107 M⊙. The results provide interesting evidence to not only support TDE-related origin of double-peaked broad line emission materials but also support TDE as an accepted physical explanation to physical properties of changing-look AGN.

Dependence of Narrow-line Region Sizes on [O iii] Luminosity in Low-redshift Active Galactic Nuclei with Double-peaked Broad Balmer Emission Lines

In this paper, simple but interesting results are reported on the upper limits of narrow-line region (NLR) sizes of a small sample of 38 low-redshift (z < 0.1) active galactic nuclei (AGN) with double-peaked broad emission lines (double-peaked BLAGN), in order to check whether the NLR sizes in type-1 AGN (broad line) and type-2 AGN (narrow line) obey a similar empirical dependence on [O iii] luminosity. In order to correct the inclination effects on projected NLR sizes of type-1 AGN, the accretion disk origin is commonly applied to describe the double-peaked broad Hα line, leading to the determined inclination angles of central disk-like broad-line regions of 38 double-peaked BLAGN. Then, considering the fixed Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) fiber radius, the upper limits of the NLR sizes of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN can be estimated. Meanwhile, a strong linear correlation between continuum luminosity and [O iii] luminosity is applied to confirm that the [O iii] emissions of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN are totally covered in the SDSS fibers. Considering the reddening-corrected measured [O iii] luminosity, the upper limits of the NLR sizes of the 38 double-peaked BLAGN are within a 99.9999% confidence interval of the expected results from the empirical relation between NLR size and [O iii] luminosity in type-2 AGN. In the current understanding, there are no challenges to the unified model of AGN through the space properties of NLRs.

Discovery of a quasar with double-peaked broad balmer emission lines

ABSTRACT Most massive galaxies contain a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their centre. When galaxies merge, their SMBHs sink to the centre of the new galaxy, where they are thought to eventually merge. During this process, an SMBH binary is formed. The presence of two sets of broad emission lines in the optical spectrum of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) has been interpreted as evidence for two broad-line regions (BLRs), one surrounding each SMBH in a binary. We modelled the broad Balmer emission lines in the SDSS spectra of 373 extreme variability AGNs using one broad and several narrow Gaussian components. We report on the discovery of SDSS J021647.53 − 011341.5 (hereafter J0216) as a double-peaked broad emission line source. Among the 373 AGNs, there were five sources that are known as double-peaked emission line sources. Three of these have been reported as candidate SMBH binaries in previous studies. We present all six objects and their double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines, and discuss the implications for a tidal disruption event (TDE) interpretation of the extreme variability, assuming the double-peaked sources are SMBH binaries.

Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Integral Field Unit Spectroscopy of the Double-peaked Broad Emission Line of a Red Active Galactic Nucleus

Abstract Galaxy mergers are expected to produce multiple supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in close-separation, but the detection of such SMBHs has been difficult. 2MASS J165939.7 + 183436 is a red active galactic nucleus (AGN) that is a prospective merging SMBH candidate owing to its merging features in Hubble Space Telescope imaging and double-peaked broad emission lines (BELs). Herein, we report a Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Integral Field Unit observation of a double-peaked broad Hα line of 2MASS J165939.7+183436. Furthermore, we confirm the existence of two BEL peaks that are kinematically separated by 3000 km s−1, with the SMBH of each BEL component weighing at and , if they arise from independent BELs near the two SMBHs. The BEL components were not separated at &gt;0.″1; however, under several plausible assumptions regarding the fitting of each spaxel, the two components are found to be spatially separated at 0.″085 (∼250 pc). Different assumptions for the fitting can lead to a null (&lt;0.″05) or a larger spatial separation (∼0.″15). Given the uncertainty regarding the spatial separation, various models, such as the disk emitter and multiple SMBH models, are viable solutions to explain the double BEL components. These results will promote future research for finding more multiple SMBH systems in red AGNs, and higher-resolution imaging validates these different models.

An improved test of the binary black hole hypothesis for quasars with double-peaked broad Balmer lines

ABSTRACT Velocity offsets in the broad Balmer lines of quasars and their temporal variations serve as indirect evidence for bound supermassive black hole binaries (SBHBs) at sub-parsec separations. In this work, we test the SBHB hypothesis for 14 quasars with double-peaked broad emission lines using their long-term (14–41 yr) radial velocity curves. We improve on the previous work by (i) using elliptical instead of circular orbits for the SBHBs, (ii) adopting a statistical model for radial velocity jitter, (iii) employing a Markov chain Monte Carlo method to explore the orbital parameter space efficiently and build posterior distributions of physical parameters, and (iv) incorporating new observations. We determine empirically that jitter comprises approximately Gaussian distributed fluctuations about the smooth radial velocity curves that are larger than the measurement errors by factors of a few. We initially treat jitter by enlarging the effective error bars and then verify this approach via a variety of Gaussian process models for it. We find lower mass limits for the hypothesized SBHBs in the range 108–1011 M⊙. For seven objects, the SBHB scenario appears unlikely based on goodness-of-fit tests. For two additional objects, the minimum SBHB masses are unreasonably large (&amp;gt;1010 M⊙), strongly disfavouring the SBHB scenario. Using constraints on the orbital inclination angle (which requires some assumptions) makes the minimum masses of four more objects unreasonably large. We also cite physical and observational arguments against the SBHB hypothesis for nine objects. We conclude that the SBHB explanation is not the favoured explanation of double-peaked broad emission lines.

Properties of long-term optical variability of active galactic nuclei with double-peaked broad low-ionization emission lines

In this manuscript, we study properties of long-term optical variability of a large sample of 106 SDSS spectroscopically confirmed AGN with double-peaked broad low-ionization emission lines (double-peaked emitters). The long-term optical light curves over 8 years are collected from the Catalina Sky Surveys Data Release 2. And, the Damped Random Walk (DRW) process is applied to describe the long-term variability of the double-peaked emitters. Meanwhile, the same DRW process is applied to long-term optical light curves of more than 7000 spectroscopically confirmed normal quasars in the SDSS Stripe82 Database. Then, we can find that the DRW process determined rest-frame intrinsic variability timescales $\ln(\tau/{\rm days})$ are about 5.8 and about 4.8 for the double-peaked emitters and for the normal quasars, respectively. The statistically longer intrinsic variability timescales can be confirmed in the double-peaked emitters, after considerations of necessary effects, such as the effects from different distributions of redshift, BH mass and accretion rate between the double-peaked emitters and the normal quasars. Moreover, a radial dependence of accretion rate $\dot{m}_{\rm R}~\propto~R^\beta$ with larger values of $\beta$ could be an acceptable interpretation of the longer intrinsic variability timescales in the double-peaked emitters. Therefore, there are different intrinsic properties of emission regions between the double-peaked emitters and the normal quasars. The double-peaked emitters can be well treated as an unique subclass of AGN.

Spectral optical monitoring of a double-peaked emission line AGN Arp 102B

Here we present results of the long-term (1987-2010) optical spectral monitoring of the broad line radio galaxy Arp 102B, a prototype of active galactic nuclei with the double-peaked broad emission lines, usually assumed to be emitted from an accretion disk. To explore the structure of the broad line region (BLR), we analyze the light curves of the broad H\alpha and H\beta lines and the continuum flux. We aim to estimate the dimensions of the broad-line emitting regions and the mass of the central black hole. We use the CCF to find lags between the lines and continuum variations. We investigate in more details the correlation between line and continuum fluxes, moreover we explore periodical variations of the red-to-blue line flux ratio using Lomb-Scargle periodograms. The line and continuum light curves show several flare-like events. The fluxes in lines and in the continuum are not showing a big change (around 20%) during the monitoring period. We found a small correlation between the line and continuum flux variation, that may indicate that variation in lines has weak connection with the variation of the central photoionization source. In spite of a low line-continuum correlation, using several methods, we estimated a time lag for H\beta around 20 days. The correlation between the H\beta and H\alpha flux variation is significantly higher than between lines and continuum. During the monitoring period, the H\beta and H\alpha lines show double-peaked profiles and we found an indication for a periodical oscillation in the red-to-blue flux ratio of the H\alpha line. The estimated mass of the central black hole is \sim 1.1 \times 10^8 M\odot that is in an agreement with the mass estimated from the M-\sigma* relation.

The nature of massive black hole binary candidates – I. Spectral properties and evolution

Theoretically, bound binaries of massive black holes are expected as the natural outcome of mergers of massive galaxies. From the observational side, however, massive black hole binaries remain elusive. Velocity shifts between narrow and broad emission lines in quasar spectra are considered a promising observational tool to search for spatially unresolved, dynamically bound binaries. In this series of papers we investigate the nature of such candidates through analyses of their spectra, images and multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions. Here we investigate the properties of the optical spectra, including the evolution of the broad line profiles, of all the sources identified in our previous study. We find a diverse phenomenology of broad and narrow line luminosities, widths, shapes, ionization conditions and time variability, which we can broadly ascribe to 4 classes based on the shape of the broad line profiles: 1) Objects with bell-shaped broad lines with big velocity shifts (>1000 km/s) compared to their narrow lines show a variety of broad line widths and luminosities, modest flux variations over a few years, and no significant change in the broad line peak wavelength. 2) Objects with double-peaked broad emission lines tend to show very luminous and broadened lines, and little time variability. 3) Objects with asymmetric broad emission lines show a broad range of broad line luminosities and significant variability of the line profiles. 4) The remaining sources tend to show moderate to low broad line luminosities, and can be ascribed to diverse phenomena. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of massive black hole binary searches.

EFFECTS OF AN ACCRETION DISK WIND ON THE PROFILE OF THE BALMER EMISSION LINES FROM ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

We explore the connection between active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with single- and double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines by using models dealing with radiative transfer effects through a disk wind. Our primary goal is to assess the applicability of the Murray & Chiang model by making an extensive and systematic comparison of the model predictions with data. In the process, we also verify the original derivation and evaluate the importance of general relativistic effects. As the optical depth through the emission layer increases, the peaks of a double-peaked profile move closer and eventually merge, producing a single peak. The properties of the emission line profile depend as sensitively on the geometric parameters of the line-emitting portion of the disk as they do on the disk-wind parameters. Using a parameter range that encompasses the expected characteristics of the broad-line regions in AGNs, we construct a database of model profiles and measure a set of diagnostic properties. Comparisons of the model profiles with emission lines from a subset of Sloan digital Sky Survey quasars show that observed lines are consistent with moderately large optical depth in the disk wind and a range of disk inclinations i ≲ 45°. Including relativistic effects is necessary to produce the asymmetries of observed line profiles.

IDENTIFYING SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE BINARIES WITH BROAD EMISSION LINE DIAGNOSIS

Double-peaked broad emission lines in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) may indicate the existence of a bound supermassive black hole (SMBH) binary where two distinct broad line regions (BLRs) contribute together to the line profile. An alternative interpretation is a disk emitter origin for the double-peaked line profile. Using simple BLR models, we calculate the expected broad line profile for a SMBH binary at different separations. Under reasonable assumptions that both BLRs are illuminated by the two active SMBHs and that the ionizing flux at the BLR location is roughly constant, we confirm the emergence of double-peaked features and radial velocity drifts of the two peaks due to the binary orbital motion. However, such a clear double-peaked feature only arises in a particular stage of the binary evolution when the two BHs are close enough such that the line-of-sight orbital velocity difference is larger than the FWHM of the individual broad components, while the two BLRs are still mostly distinct. Prior to this stage, the velocity splitting due to the orbit motion of the binary is too small to separate the emission from the two BLRs, leading to asymmetric broad line profiles in general. When the two BHs are even closer such that the two BLRs can no longer be distinct, the line profile becomes more complex and the splitting of the peaks does not correspond to the orbital motion of the binary. In this regime there are no coherent radial velocity drifts in the peaks with time. Asymmetric line profiles are probably a far more common signature of binary SMBHs than are double-peaked profiles. We discuss the temporal variations of the broad line profile for binary SMBHs and highlight the different behaviors of reverberation mapping in the binary and disk emitter cases, which may serve as a feasible tool to disentangle these two scenarios.

Long‐Term Profile Variability of Double‐peaked Emission Lines in Active Galactic Nuclei

We present up to two decades of spectroscopic monitoring of the double-peaked broad Halpha emission lines of seven broad-line radio galaxies. These extremely broad, double-peaked lines are successfully modeled by emission from gas in the outer accretion disk, and their profiles vary on timescales of months to years. This variability is a valuable probe for understanding the structure and dynamics of the accretion disk. We characterize the long-term broad-line profile variability in detail, and compare the evolution of the line profiles with predictions from a few simple physical models for dynamical processes in the accretion disk. We find no evidence for persistent, periodic variability that would be indicative of a precessing elliptical disk, or a circular disk with a long-lived, single-armed spiral or warp. We do find transient, periodic variability on the orbital timescale, possibly resulting from shocks induced by tidal perturbations, and variability in the wings of the profile which suggests changes in the emissivity of the inner accretion flow. Dramatic but localized profile changes are observed during flares and high-states of broad-line flux. In 3C 332, these changes can be explained by a slow, smooth, secular change in disk illumination. In Arp 102B and 3C 390.3, however, a simple disk model cannot explain the asymmetric profile changes, suggesting a need for more sophisticated models. We also observe sharp, transient features that appear in the blue peak of the objects, which require a well-organized velocity field.

The sizes of broad emission line regions and black hole masses of double-peaked broad low-ionization emission line objects

In this paper, the sizes of the broad emission line regions (BLRs) and black hole (BH) masses of double-peaked broad low-ionization emission line emitters (DBP emitters) are compared using different methods: virial BH masses versus BH masses from stellar velocity dispersions, the size of BLRs from the continuum luminosity versus the size of BLRs from the accretion disc model. First, the virial BH masses of DBP emitters estimated by the continuum luminosity and linewidth of broad Hβ are about six times (a much larger value, if including another DBP emitters, of which the stellar velocity dispersions are traced by the linewidths of narrow emission lines) larger than the BH masses estimated from the relation MBH‐σ which is a more accurate relation to estimate BH masses. Second, the sizes of the BLRs of DBP emitters estimated by the empirical relation of RBLR‐L 5100 A are about three times (a much larger value, if including another DBP emitters, of which the stellar velocity dispersions are traced by the linewidths of narrow emission lines) larger than the mean flux-weighted sizes of BLRs of DBP emitters estimated by the accretion disc model. The higher electron density of BLRs of DBP emitters would be the main reason which leads to smaller size of BLRs than the predicted value from the continuum luminosity.

SDSS J2125−0813: the evidence for the origination of optical Fe ii emission lines from an accretion disc near a central black hole

Abstract We report on the radio-quiet quasar SDSS J2125−0813 which obviously emits optical Fe ii emission lines and double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines. Using the accretion disc model for double-peaked, broad, low-ionization emission lines, we reproduce the composite line spectra at the optical band between 4100 and 5600 Å. Broad Fe ii emission lines can be fitted simultaneously with the broad Hβ and Mg i lines, such that all broad lines have an elliptical disc profile with the same disc parameters. This result indicates that the optical Fe ii emission lines originate from the accretion disc near the central black hole which produces the double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines. Furthermore, we find that the object has a dimensionless accretion rate , which is much larger than the accretion rate for the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) mode, and that the energy budget of the accretion disc is enough to power the double-peaked broad Balmer emission lines.

A Physical Model for Active Galactic Nuclei with Double‐peaked Broad Emission Lines

The double-peaked broad emission lines are usually thought to be linked to accretion disks; however, the local viscous heating in the line-emitting disk portion is usually insufficient for the observed double-peaked broad-line luminosity in most sources. It was suggested that the X-ray radiation from an ion-supported torus in the inner region of the disk can photoionize the outer line-emitting disk region. However, our calculations show that only a small fraction (≲2.3%) of the radiation from the radiatively inefficient accretion flow (RIAF) in the inner region of the disk can photoionize the line-emitting disk portion, because the solid angle of the outer disk portion subtended to the inner region of the RIAF is too small. We propose a physical model for double-peaked line emitters, in which only those AGNs with sufficient matter above the disk (slowly moving jets or outflows) can scatter enough photons radiated from the inner disk region to the outer line-emitting disk portion extending from several hundred to more than 2000 gravitational radii. Our model predicts a power-law r-dependent line emissivity Hα ∝ R, where β ~ 2.5, which is consistent with β ~ 2-3 required by the model fittings for double-peaked line profiles. Using a sample of radio-loud AGNs with double-peaked emission lines, we show that the outer disk regions can be efficiently illuminated by the photons scattered from slow or mild relativistic electron-positron jets with γj ≲ 2. It is consistent with the fact that no double-peaked emission line is present in strong radio quasars with relativistic jets. For radio-quiet double-peaked line emitters, slow outflows with Thomson scattering depth ~ 0.2 instead of jets can scatter sufficient photons to (illuminate) the line-emitting regions. This model can therefore solve the energy budget problem for double-peaked line emitters.

Black Hole Mass and Accretion Rate of Active Galactic Nuclei with Double‐peaked Broad Emission Lines

Using an empirical relation between the broad-line region size and optical continuum luminosity, we estimated the black hole mass and accretion rate for 135 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with double-peaked broad emission lines in two samples, one from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the other from a survey of radio-loud broad emission line AGNs. With black hole masses ranging from 3 × 107 M☉ to 5 × 109 M☉, these AGNs have dimensionless accretion rates (Eddington ratios) between 0.001 and 0.1 and bolometric luminosity between 1043 and 1046 ergs s-1, both values being significantly larger than those of several previously known low-luminosity (Lbol < 1043 ergs s-1) double-peaked AGNs. The optical-X-ray spectra indices, αOX, of these high-luminosity double-peaked AGNs are between 1 and 1.9, systematically larger than those of low-luminosity objects, which are around 1. Modest correlations (with a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.60) of the αOX value with the Eddington ratio and bolometric luminosity have been found, indicating that double-peaked AGNs with higher Eddington ratios or higher luminosity tend to have larger αOX values. Based on these results, we suggested that the accretion process in the central region of some high-luminosity double-peaked emission line AGNs (especially those with Eddington ratios larger than 0.01) is probably different from that of low-luminosity objects, in which a well-known ADAF-like accretion flow was thought to exist. It is likely that the accretion physics in some high-luminosity double-peaked AGNs is similar to that in normal type 1 AGNs, which is also supported by the presence of possible big blue bumps in the spectra of some double-peaked AGNs with higher Eddington ratios. We note that the prototype double-peaked emission line AGN, Arp 102B, which has a black hole mass of 108 M☉ and a dimensionless accretion rate of 0.001, may be an intermediate object between the high- and low-luminosity double-peaked AGNs. In addition, we found an apparent strong anticorrelation (with a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of -0.79) between the peak separation of double-peaked profiles and Eddington ratios. However, such an anticorrelation is probably induced by a strong correlation between the peak separation and emission-line widths and needs to be confirmed by future work. If it is real, it may provide us another clue to understanding why double-peaked broad emission lines were hardly found in luminous AGNs with Eddington ratios larger than 0.1.

Double-Peaked Broad Emission Lines in the Nucleus of M81

We present recent optical spectroscopy of the nucleus of the spiral galaxy M81 obtained with the post-COSTAR Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) aboard Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The spectra reveal a new double- peaked broad component in the profiles of Hα and Hβ, the FWZI of which are ~14000 and 11000 km s^-1^, respectively. Such double-peaked broad emission lines are known to exist in some active galactic nuclei (AGNs) classified as broad-line radio galaxies or radio-loud quasars, but M 81 is only the second AGN with low radio power and in a spiral host galaxy known to exhibit such lines. This detection in M81 strongly supports the trend for such double-peaked broad lines to be found preferentially in galactic nuclei with LINER-like narrow emission-line spectra. We emphasize that all AGNs known to exhibit broad, double-peaked line profiles also show clear evidence for jets, even though these jets may not be luminous radio emitters. In M81, the red peak of the double- peaked profile is stronger than the blue peak, while the blue wing extends further from systemic velocity than does the red wing. These properties are contrary to the prediction of a model in which the line originates in a circular, relativistic accretion disk. Either the disk is elliptical or the double-peaked line originates in a bipolar outflow (e.g., jets). Continued spectroscopic monitoring of the broad Hα profile in M81 is needed to constrain such models.

Variable emission lines as evidence of spiral shocks in accretion disks around active galactic nuclei

view Abstract Citations (64) References (25) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Variable Emission Lines as Evidence of Spiral Shocks in Accretion Disks around Active Galactic Nuclei Chakrabarti, Sandip K. ; Wiita, Paul J. Abstract We show that the observed variability of the double-peaked broad emission lines seen in some active galactic nuclei can be due to the existence of two-armed spiral shocks in accretion disks around central black holes. We successfully fit the observations of Arp 102B and 3C 390.3 made at different times with self-similar spiral shock models which incorporate relativistic corrections. Our model allows predictions of how the double-peaked lines are likely to vary, so that it may be tested against future observations. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1994 DOI: 10.1086/174753 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...434..518C Keywords: Accretion Disks; Active Galactic Nuclei; Astronomical Models; Black Holes (Astronomy); Emission Spectra; Line Shape; Shock Waves; Variability; Coordinate Transformations; H Alpha Line; Relativity; Astrophysics; ACCRETION; ACCRETION DISKS; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NAME: ARP 102B; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: 3C 390.3; GALAXIES: NUCLEI; LINE: PROFILES; SHOCK WAVES full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2) NED (2)