Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-06-04
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
18 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal as a Letter
Scientific paper
We report spectropolarimetric observations of the quasar E1821+643 (z=0.297), which suggest that it may be an example of gravitational recoil due to anisotropic emission of gravitational waves following the merger of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) binary. In total flux, the broad Balmer lines are redshifted by ~1000 km/s relative to the narrow lines and have highly red asymmetric profiles, whereas in polarized flux the broad H_alpha line exhibits a blueshift of similar magnitude and a strong blue asymmetry. We show that these observations are consistent with a scattering model in which the broad-line region has two components, moving with different bulk velocities away from the observer and towards a scattering region at rest in the host galaxy. If the high velocity system is identified as gas bound to the SMBH, this implies that the SMBH is itself moving with a velocity ~2100 km/s relative to the host galaxy. We discuss some implications of the recoil hypothesis and also briefly consider whether our observations can be explained in terms of scattering of broad-line emission originating from the active component of an SMBH binary, or from an outflowing wind.
Axon David J.
Kharb Preeti
Robinson Andrew
Smith James E.
Young Stuart
No associations
LandOfFree
Spectropolarimetric evidence for a kicked supermassive black hole in the Quasar E1821+643 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Spectropolarimetric evidence for a kicked supermassive black hole in the Quasar E1821+643, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spectropolarimetric evidence for a kicked supermassive black hole in the Quasar E1821+643 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-637850