Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-06-04
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
ApJL, 5 pages, 3 figures, revised to match accepted version
Scientific paper
The quasar SDSS J153636.22+044127.0, exhibiting peculiar broad emission-line profiles with multiple components, was proposed as a candidate sub-parsec binary supermassive black hole system. More recently, imaging revealed two spatially distinct sources, leading some to suggest the system to be a quasar pair separated by ~5 kpc. We present Palomar and Keck optical spectra of this system from which we identify a third velocity component to the emission lines. We argue that the system is more likely an unusual member of the class of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known as "double-peaked emitters" than a sub-parsec black hole binary or quasar pair. We find no significant velocity evolution of the two main peaks over the course of 0.95 yr, with a 3-sigma upper limit on any secular change of 70 km/s/yr. We also find that the three velocity components of the emission lines are spatially coincident to within 0.015" along the slit, apparently ruling out the double-quasar hypothesis.
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Bloom Josh S.
Cenko Bradley S.
Chornock Ryan
Filippenko Alexei V.
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