THE GEOMETRY AND KINEMATICS OF THE BROAD-LINE REGION IN NGC-5548 FROMHST AND IUE OBSERVATIONS

Citation
I. Wanders et al., THE GEOMETRY AND KINEMATICS OF THE BROAD-LINE REGION IN NGC-5548 FROMHST AND IUE OBSERVATIONS, The Astrophysical journal, 453(2), 1995, pp. 87
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
ISSN journal
0004637X
Volume
453
Issue
2
Year of publication
1995
Part
2
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(1995)453:2<87:TGAKOT>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
The spatial and radial velocity distribution of broad-line-emitting ga s in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 is examined through the process of reverberation mapping, which is done by detailed comparison of continu um and emission-line variations. Recent spectroscopic monitoring of NG C 5548 with HST and IUE allows us to resolve the ''transfer function'' (TF) that relates the continuum and emission-line variability. We als o examine the radial velocity-resolved TFs, and confirm that predomina ntly radial motions of the line-emitting clouds can be excluded. We fi nd that a broad-line region comprised of clouds that are orbiting a ce ntral source of mass similar to 10(8) M(circle dot) along randomly inc lined Keplerian orbits and irradiated by a beamed continuum source yie lds a TF and line profile that are qualitatively consistent with the o bservations. In this model, the clouds that produce the variable C (IV ) emission lie within 12 lt-days of the central source, and the contin uum radiation is confined to a wide biconical beam (semi-opening angle 35 degrees-60 degrees) with the observer viewing into the cone.