Evolution of broad-line emission from active galactic nuclei. Issue 4 (28th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elitzur, Moshe; Ho, Luis C.; Trump, Jonathan R.
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 438:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 3340
• Page End: 3351
• Publication Date: 2014-01-28
• Subjects: galaxies: active -- galaxies: nuclei -- quasars: emission lines -- quasars: general; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stt2445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract: Apart from viewing-dependent obscuration, intrinsic broad-line emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) follows an evolutionary sequence: type 1 → 1.2/1.5 → 1.8/1.9 → 2 as the accretion rate on to the central black hole is decreasing. This spectral evolution is controlled, at least in part, by the parameter L bol / M 2/3, where L bol is the AGN bolometric luminosity and M is the black hole mass. Both this dependence and the double-peaked profiles that emerge along the sequence arise naturally in the disc-wind scenario for the AGN broad-line region.