Regions Of Active Galactic Nuclei Research Articles

The Structure of the Broad-line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. II. Dynamical Modeling of Data From the AGN10 Reverberation Mapping Campaign

Abstract We present inferences on the geometry and kinematics of the broad-Hβ line-emitting region in four active galactic nuclei monitored as part of the fall 2010 reverberation mapping campaign at MDM Observatory led by the Ohio State University. From modeling the continuum variability and response in emission-line profile changes as a function of time, we infer the geometry of the Hβ-emitting broad-line regions (BLRs) to be thick disks that are close to face-on to the observer with kinematics that are well-described by either elliptical orbits or inflowing gas. We measure the black hole mass to be for Mrk 335, for Mrk 1501, for 3C 120, and for PG 2130+099. These black hole mass measurements are not based on a particular assumed value of the virial scale factor f, allowing us to compute individual f factors for each target. Our results nearly double the number of targets that have been modeled in this manner, and we investigate the properties of a more diverse sample by including previously modeled objects. We measure an average scale factor in the entire sample of when the line dispersion is used to characterize the line width, which is consistent with the values derived using the normalization of the –σ relation. We find that the scale factor f for individual targets is likely correlated with the black hole mass, inclination angle, and opening angle of the BLR, but we do not find any correlation with the luminosity.

Dust inflated accretion disc as the origin of the broad line region in active galactic nuclei

The Broad Line Region (BLR) in AGN is composed of dense gas ($\sim 10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$) on sub-pc scale, which absorbs about 30 per cent of the ionising continuum. The outer size of the BLR is likely set by dust sublimation, and its density by the incident radiation pressure compression (RPC). But, what is the origin of this gas, and what sets its covering factor (CF)? Czerny & Hryniewicz (2011) suggested that the BLR is a failed dusty wind from the outer accretion disc. We explore the expected dust properties, and the implied BLR structure. We find that graphite grains sublimate only at $T\simeq 2000$ K at the predicted density of $\sim 10^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$, and therefore large graphite grains ($\ge 0.3$ $\mu$m) survive down to the observed size of the BLR, $R_{\rm BLR}$. The dust opacity in the accretion disc atmosphere is $\sim 50$ times larger than previously assumed, and leads to an inflated torus-like structure, with a predicted peak height at $R_{\rm BLR}$. The illuminated surface of this torus-like structure is a natural place for the BLR. The BLR CF is mostly set by the gas metallicity, the radiative accretion efficiency, a dynamic configuration, and ablation by the incident optical-UV continuum. This model predicts that the BLR should extend inwards of $R_{\rm BLR}$ to the disc radius where the surface temperature is $\simeq 2000$ K, which occurs at $R_{\rm in}\simeq 0.18 R_{\rm BLR}$. The value of $R_{\rm in}$ can be tested by reverberation mapping of the higher ionisation lines, predicted by RPC to peak well inside $R_{\rm BLR}$. The dust inflated disc scenario can also be tested based on the predicted response of $R_{\rm BLR}$ and the CF to changes in the AGN luminosity and accretion rate.

3 mm GMVA Observations of Total and Polarized Emission from Blazar and Radio Galaxy Core Regions

We present total and linearly polarized 3 mm Global mm-VLBI Array (GMVA; mm-VLBI: Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations at millimetre wavelengths) images of a sample of blazars and radio galaxies from the VLBA-BU-BLAZAR 7 mm monitoring program designed to probe the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets and locate the sites of gamma-ray emission observed by the Fermi-LAT. The lower opacity at 3 mm and improved angular resolution—on the order of 50 microarcseconds—allow us to distinguish features in the jet not visible in the 7 mm VLBA data. We also compare two different methods used for the calibration of instrumental polarisation and we analyze the resulting images for some of the sources in the sample.

Failed Radiatively Accelerated Dusty Outflow Model of the Broad Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. I. Analytical Solution

Abstract The physical origin of the broad line region in active galactic nuclei is still unclear despite many years of observational studies. The reason is that the region is unresolved, and the reverberation mapping results imply a complex velocity field. We adopt a theory-motivated approach to identify the principal mechanism responsible for this complex phenomenon. We consider the possibility that the role of dust is essential. We assume that the local radiation pressure acting on the dust in the accretion disk atmosphere launches the outflow of material, but higher above the disk the irradiation from the central parts causes dust evaporation and a subsequent fallback. This failed radiatively accelerated dusty outflow is expected to represent the material forming low ionization lines. In this paper we formulate simple analytical equations to describe the cloud motion, including the evaporation phase. The model is fully described just by the basic parameters of black hole mass, accretion rate, black hole spin, and viewing angle. We study how the spectral line generic profiles correspond to this dynamic. We show that the virial factor calculated from our model strongly depends on the black hole mass in the case of enhanced dust opacity, and thus it then correlates with the line width. This could explain why the virial factor measured in galaxies with pseudobulges differs from that obtained from objects with classical bulges, although the trend predicted by the current version of the model is opposite to the observed trend.

Searching for warped disk AGN candidates

AbstractMapping the maser emission of subnuclear regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) enable us to determine some interesting details of the geometry of the accretion disks (AD) under the condition that they have “maser skin”. Additional information about disk warp in the innermost zone near the central black hole (BH) can be disclosed by means of modeling the shape of the relativistically broadened iron emission lines in the energy range 6-7 keV. Here we analyze the influence of the AD geometry (warp) on the shape of the set of relativistically broadened emission lines, as well as consider some examples of AGNs identified by maser mapping techinque as warped and having the complex shape of iron lines near 6.4 keV.

Dissecting the active galactic nucleus in Circinus – I. Peculiar mid-IR morphology explained by a dusty hollow cone

Recent high angular resolution observations resolved for the first time the mid-infrared (MIR) structure of nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN). Surprisingly, they revealed that a major fraction of their MIR emission comes from the polar regions. This is at odds with the expectation based on AGN unification, which postulates a dusty torus in the equatorial region. The nearby, archetypical AGN in the Circinus galaxy offers one of the best opportunities to study the MIR emission in greater detail. New, high quality MIR images obtained with the upgraded VISIR instrument at the Very Large Telescope show that the previously detected bar-like structure extends up to at least 40 pc on both sides of the nucleus along the edges of the ionization cone. Motivated by observations across a wide wavelength range and on different spatial scales, we propose a phenomenological dust emission model for the AGN in the Circinus galaxy consisting of a compact dusty disk and a large-scale dusty cone shell, illuminated by a tilted accretion disk with an anisotropic emission pattern. Undertaking detailed radiative transfer simulations, we demonstrate that such a model is able to explain the peculiar MIR morphology and account for the entire IR spectral energy distribution. Our results call for caution when attributing dust emission of unresolved sources entirely to the torus and warrant further investigation of the MIR emission in the polar regions of AGN.

Superluminous Transients at AGN Centers from Interaction between Black Hole Disk Winds and Broad-line Region Clouds

Abstract We propose that superluminous transients that appear at central regions of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) such as CSS100217:102913+404220 (CSS100217) and PS16dtm, which reach near- or super-Eddington luminosities of the central black holes, are powered by the interaction between accretion-disk winds and clouds in broad-line regions (BLRs) surrounding them. If the disk luminosity temporarily increases by, e.g., limit–cycle oscillations, leading to a powerful radiatively driven wind, strong shock waves propagate in the BLR. Because the dense clouds in the AGN BLRs typically have similar densities to those found in SNe IIn, strong radiative shocks emerge and efficiently convert the ejecta kinetic energy to radiation. As a result, transients similar to SNe IIn can be observed at AGN central regions. Since a typical black hole disk-wind velocity is ≃0.1c, where c is the speed of light, the ejecta kinetic energy is expected to be ≃1052 erg when ≃1 M ⊙ is ejected. This kinetic energy is transformed to radiation energy in a timescale for the wind to sweep up a similar mass to itself in the BLR, which is a few hundred days. Therefore, both luminosities (∼1044 erg s−1) and timescales (∼100 days) of the superluminous transients from AGN central regions match those expected in our interaction model. If CSS100217 and PS16dtm are related to the AGN activities triggered by limit–cycle oscillations, they become bright again in coming years or decades.

The case for cases B and C: intrinsic hydrogen line ratios of the broad-line region of active galactic nuclei, reddenings, and accretion disc sizes

Low-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with extremely blue optical spectral indices are shown to have a mean, velocity-averaged, broad-line H$\alpha$/H$\beta$ ratio of $\thickapprox 2.72 \pm 0.04$, consistent with a Baker-Menzel Case B value. Comparison of a wide range of properties of the very bluest AGNs with those of a luminosity-matched subset of the Dong et al. blue AGN sample indicates that the only difference is the internal reddening. Ultraviolet fluxes are brighter for the bluest AGNs by an amount consistent with the flat AGN reddening curve of Gaskell et al.(2004). The lack of a significant difference in the GALEX (FUV--NUV) colour index strongly rules out a steep SMC-like reddening curve and also argues against an intrinsically harder spectrum for the bluest AGNs. For very blue AGNs the Ly$\alpha$/H$\beta$ ratio is also consistent with being the Case B value. The Case B ratios provide strong support for the self-shielded broad-line model of Gaskell, Klimek & Nazarova. It is proposed that the greatly enhanced Ly$\alpha$/H$\beta$ ratio at very high velocities is a consequence of continuum fluorescence in the Lyman lines (Case C). Reddenings of AGNs mean that the far-UV luminosity is often underestimated by up to an order of magnitude. This is a major factor causing the discrepancies between measured accretion disc sizes and the predictions of simple accretion disc theory. Dust covering fractions for most AGNs are lower than has been estimated. The total mass in lower mass supermassive black holes must be greater than hitherto estimated.

THE INTERMEDIATE-LINE REGION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

ABSTRACT We show that the recently observed suppression of the gap between the broad-line region (BLR) and the narrow-line region (NLR) in some active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can be fully explained by an increase of the gas density in the emitting region. Our model predicts the formation of the intermediate-line region (ILR) that is observed in some Seyfert galaxies by the detection of emission lines with intermediate-velocity FWHM ∼ 700–1200 km s−1. These lines are believed to be originating from an ILR located somewhere between the BLR and NLR. As was previously proved, the apparent gap is assumed to be caused by the presence of dust beyond the sublimation radius. Our computations with the use of the cloudy photoionization code show that the differences in the shape of the spectral energy distribution from the central region of AGNs do not diminish the apparent gap in the line emission in those objects. A strong discontinuity in the line emission versus radius exists for all lines at the dust sublimation radius. However, increasing the gas density to ∼ cm−3 at the sublimation radius provides the continuous line emission versus radius and fully explains the recently observed lack of apparent gap in some AGNs. We show that such a high density is consistent with the density of upper layers of an accretion disk atmosphere. Therefore, the upper layers of the disk atmosphere can give rise to the formation of observed emission-line clouds.

Millimeter VLBI of NGC 1052: Dynamics

The LINER galaxy NGC 1052 is an ideal target to study the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN), given its close distance of about 20 Mpc. The source was observed at 29 epochs from 2005 to 2009 with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 43 GHz. Here, we present a kinematic study of its twin-jet system from a subset of 9 epochs at 43 GHz carried out in 2005 and 2006, finding a bright central feature as the dynamic center. The resulting mean velocities of β = v / c = 0 . 46 ± 0 . 08 and β = 0 . 69 ± 0 . 02 for the western and eastern jet, respectively, give hints towards higher velocities in the eastern jet.

Determination of magnetic fields in broad line region of active galactic nuclei from polarimetric observations

Magnetic fields play an important role in confining gas clouds in the broad line region (BLR) of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and in maintaining the stability of these clouds. Without magnetic fields the clouds would not be stable, and soon after their formation they would expand and disperse. We show that the strength of the magnetic field can be derived from the polarimetric observations. Estimates of magnetic fields for a number of AGNs are based on the observed polarization degrees of broad Hα lines and nearby continuum. The difference between their values allows us to estimate the magnetic field strength in the BLR using the method developed by Silant’ev et al. (2013). Values of magnetic fields in BLR for a number of AGNs have been derived.

Kinematics and structure of clumps in broad-line regions in active galactic nuclei

We use the Jeans equations for an ensemble of collisionless particles to describe the distribution of broad-line region (BLR) cloud in three classes: (A) non disc (B) disc-wind (c) pure disc structure. We propose that clumpy structures in the brightest quasars belong to class A, fainter quasars and brighter Seyferts belong to class B, and dimmer Seyfert galaxies and all low-luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs) belong to class C. We derive the virial factor, $f$, for disc-like structures and find a negative correlation between the inclination angle, $\theta_{0}$, and $f$. We find similar behaviour for $f$ as a function of the FWHM and $\sigma_{z}$, the $z$ component of velocity dispersion. For different values of $\theta_{0}$ we find that $ 1.0 \lesssim f \lesssim 9.0 $ in type1 AGNs and $ 0.5 \lesssim f \lesssim 1.0 $ in type2 AGNs. Moreover we have $ 0.5 \lesssim f \lesssim 6.5 $ for different values of FWHM and $ 1.4 \lesssim f \lesssim 1.8 $ for different values of $ \sigma_{z} $. We also find that $ f $ is relatively insensitive to the variations of bolometric luminosity and column density of each cloud and the range of variation of $ f $ is in order of 0.01. Considering wide range of $ f $ we see the use of average virial factor $ \langle f \rangle $ is not very safe. Therefore we propose AGN community to divide a sample into a few subsamples based on the value of $ \theta_{0}$ and FWHM of members and calculate $ \langle f \rangle $ for each group separately to reduce uncertainty in black hole mass estimation.

Are there reliable methods to estimate the nuclear orientation of Seyfert galaxies?

Orientation, together with accretion and evolution, is one of the three main drivers in the Grand Unification of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Being unresolved, determining the true inclination of those powerful sources is always difficult and indirect, yet it remains a vital clue to apprehend the numerous, panchromatic and complex spectroscopic features we detect. There are only a hundred inclinations derived so far; in this context, can we be sure that we measure the true orientation of AGN? To answer this question, four methods to estimate the nuclear inclination of AGN are investigated and compared to inclination-dependent observables (hydrogen column density, Balmer linewidth, optical polarization, and flux ratios within the IR and relative to X-rays). Among these orientation indicators, the method developed by Fisher, Crenshaw, Kraemer et al., mapping and modeling the radial velocities of the [O iii] emission region in AGN, is the most successful. The [O iii]-mapping technique shows highly statistically significant correlations at >95% confidence level for rejecting null hypothesis for all the test cases. Such results confirm that the Unified Model is correct at a scale ranging from kiloparsec to a fraction of a parsec. However, at a radial distance less than 0.01 pc from the central black hole, warps and misalignments may change this picture.

Eclipsing the innermost accretion disc regions in AGN

AbstractVariable X‐ray absorption has been observed in active galactic nuclei (AGN) on several time scales. Observations allow us to identify the absorber with clouds associated either with the clumpy torus (parsec scales, long timescales) or with the broad line region (BLR) (short timescales). In the latter, the cloud size has been estimated to be of the order of few gravitational radii from the observed absorption variability. Such small cloud sizes are comparable to the X‐ray emitting regions so that a detailed modeling of occultation events in AGN has the potential of enabling us to infer accurately the geometry of the system. We have developed a relativistic X‐ray spectral model for occultation events and we present here theoretical predictions on the different observables that can be inferred by studying X‐ray eclipses in simulated XMMNewton data. These include the size of the X‐ray emitting regions as well as more fundamental parameters such as the black hole spin and the system inclination. We find that absorption varies as a function of the energy range and that its maximum takes place when the approaching part of the accretion disc is covered. Therefore we study the hard‐to‐soft (H/ S) ratio light curves produced during an eclipse and use them to characterise the properties of the inner accretion disc in a new model‐independent way. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

On the efficient acceleration of clouds in active galactic nuclei

Abstract In the broad line region of active galactic nuclei (AGN), acceleration occurs naturally when a cloud condenses out of the hot confining medium due to the increase in line opacity as the cloud cools. However, acceleration by radiation pressure is not very efficient when the flux is time-independent, unless the flow is 1D. Here, we explore how acceleration is affected by a time-varying flux, as AGN are known to be highly variable. If the period of flux oscillations is longer than the thermal time-scale, we expect the gas to cool during the low flux state, and therefore line opacity should quickly increase. The cloud will receive a small kick due to the increased radiation force. We perform hydrodynamical simulations using athena to confirm this effect and quantify its importance. We find that despite the flow becoming turbulent in 2D due to hydrodynamic instabilities, a 20 per cent modulation of the flux leads to a net increase in acceleration – by more than a factor of 2 – in both 1D and 2D. We show that this acceleration is sufficient to produce the observed line widths, although we only consider optically thin clouds. We discuss the implications of our results for photoionization modelling and reverberation mapping.

Virilization of the Broad Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei—connection between shifts and widths of broad emission lines

We investigate the virilization of the emission lines Hbeta and Mg II in the sample of 287 Type 1 Active Galactic Nuclei taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey database. We explore the connections between the intrinsic line shifts and full widths at different levels of maximal intensity. We found that: (i) Hbeta seems to be a good virial estimator of black hole masses, and an intrinsic redshift of Hbeta is dominantly caused by the gravitational effect, (ii) there is an anti-correlation between the redshift and width of the wings of the Mg II line, (iii) the broad Mg II line can be used as virial estimator only at 50% of the maximal intensity, while the widths and intrinsic shifts of the line wings can not be used for this purpose.

The case for inflow of the broad-line region of active galactic nuclei

The high-ionization lines of the broad-line region (BLR) of thermal active galactic nuclei (AGNs) show blueshifts of a few hundred km/s to several thousand km/sec with respect to the low-ionization lines. This has long been thought to be due to the high-ionization lines of the BLR arising in a wind of which the far side of the outflow is blocked from our view by the accretion disc. Evidence for and against the disc-wind model is discussed. The biggest problem for the model is that velocity-resolved reverberation mapping repeatedly fails to show the expected kinematic signature of outflow of the BLR. The disc-wind model also cannot readily reproduce the red side of the line profiles of high-ionization lines. The rapidly falling density in an outflow makes it difficult to obtain high equivalent widths. We point out a number of major problems with associating the BLR with the outflows producing broad absorption lines. An explanation which avoids all these problems and satisfies the constraints of both the line profiles and velocity-resolved reverberation-mapping is a model in which the blueshifting is due to scattering off material spiraling inwards with an inflow velocity of half the velocity of the blueshifting. We discuss how recent reverberation mapping results are consistent with the scattering-plus-inflow model but do not support a disc-wind model. We propose that the anti-correlation of the apparent redshifting of H$\beta$ with the blueshifting of CIV is a consequence of contamination of the red wings of H$\beta$ by the broad wings of [O III].

Properties of the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies Revisited

There is growing evidence to suggest that the black hole mass has been previously underestimated with the H$\beta$ line width for certain active galactic nuclei (AGN). With the assumption of the flatter rather than isotropic velocity distribution of gases in the broad-line region of AGN, we investigated the properties of narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies, like the black hole mass and the Eddington ratio, and compared with broad line Seyfert 1 (BLS1) galaxies. Since gamma-rays detected in a few NLS1s which favor a smaller viewing angle in NLS1s than BLS1s, with the projection effect we estimated the relative black hole mass and Eddington ratio for NLS1s and BLS1s. The result implies that the NLS1s and BLS1s have similar black hole masses and Eddington ratios, peaked at a larger black hole mass and lower Eddington ratio for the NLS1s than thought before. Furthermore, with applying the correction factor 6 of average black hole mass as derived from the modelling of both optical and UV data in radio-loud NLS1s by Calderone et al., to the Xu et al. sample, we find that the NLS1s and BLS1s also show similar black hole masses and Eddington ratios, peaked at $2.0\times10^{7}M_{\odot}$ and 0.12 (Eddington ratio) for the NLS1s. The $M_{BH}-\sigma$ relation due to the enhanced black hole masses of NLS1s is discussed. In addition, there seems to show a linear correlation between jet power and disk luminosity for the flat spectrum radio-loud NLS1 sample, which implies an accretion dominated rather than black hole spin dominated jet.

A variable-density absorption event in NGC 3227 mapped withSuzakuandSwift

The morphology of the circumnuclear gas accreting onto supermassive black holes in Seyfert galaxies remains a topic of much debate. As the innermost regions of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are spatially unresolved, X-ray spectroscopy, and in particular line-of-sight absorption variability, is a key diagnostic to map out the distribution of gas. Observations of variable X-ray absorption in multiple Seyferts and over a wide range of timescales indicate the presence of clumps/clouds of gas within the circumnuclear material. Eclipse events by clumps transiting the line of sight allow us to explore the properties of the clumps over a wide range of radial distances from the optical/UV Broad Line Region (BLR) to beyond the dust sublimation radius. Time-resolved absorption events have been extremely rare so far, but suggest a range of density profiles across Seyferts. We resolve a weeks-long absorption event in the Seyfert NGC 3227. We examine six Suzaku and twelve Swift observations from a 2008 campaign spanning 5 weeks. We use a model accounting for the complex spectral interplay of three differently-ionized absorbers. We perform time-resolved spectroscopy to discern the absorption variability behavior. We also examine the IR-to-X-ray spectral energy distribution (SED) to test for reddening by dust. The 2008 absorption event is due to moderately-ionized ($\log \xi\sim 1.2-1.4$) gas covering 90% of the line of sight. We resolve the density profile to be highly irregular, in contrast to a previous symmetric and centrally-peaked event mapped with RXTE in the same object. The UV data do not show significant reddening, suggesting that the cloud is dust-free. The 2008 campaign has revealed a transit by a filamentary, moderately-ionized cloud of variable density that is likely located in the BLR, and possibly part of a disk wind.

Signs of active galactic nucleus quenching in a merger remnant with radio jets

Abstract We investigate optical, infrared, and radio active galactic nucleus (AGN) signs in the merger remnant Arp 187, which hosts luminous jets launched in the order of 105 yr ago but whose present-day AGN activity is still unknown. We find AGN signs from the optical Baldwin–Phillips–Telervich diagram and infrared [O iv] 25.89 μm line, originating from the narrow line regions of AGN. On the other hand, Spitzer/IRS show host galaxy dominated spectra, suggesting that the thermal emission from the AGN torus is considerably small or already diminished. Combining the black hole mass, the upper limit of radio luminosity of the core, and the fundamental plane of the black hole enables us to estimate X-ray luminosity, which gives <1040 erg s−1. Those results suggest that the AGN activity of Arp 187 has already been quenched, but the narrow line region is still alive owing to the time delay of emission from the past AGN activity.