Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996aj....111.1901b&link_type=abstract
Astronomical Journal v.111, p.1901
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
71
Galaxies: Individual: M81, Galaxies: Spiral, Galaxies: Active, Galaxies: Nuclei
Scientific paper
We present recent optical spectroscopy of the nucleus of the spiral galaxy M81 obtained with the post-COSTAR Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) aboard Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The spectra reveal a new double- peaked broad component in the profiles of Hα and Hβ, the FWZI of which are ~14000 and 11000 km s^-1^, respectively. Such double-peaked broad emission lines are known to exist in some active galactic nuclei (AGNs) classified as broad-line radio galaxies or radio-loud quasars, but M 81 is only the second AGN with low radio power and in a spiral host galaxy known to exhibit such lines. This detection in M81 strongly supports the trend for such double-peaked broad lines to be found preferentially in galactic nuclei with LINER-like narrow emission-line spectra. We emphasize that all AGNs known to exhibit broad, double-peaked line profiles also show clear evidence for jets, even though these jets may not be luminous radio emitters. In M81, the red peak of the double- peaked profile is stronger than the blue peak, while the blue wing extends further from systemic velocity than does the red wing. These properties are contrary to the prediction of a model in which the line originates in a circular, relativistic accretion disk. Either the disk is elliptical or the double-peaked line originates in a bipolar outflow (e.g., jets). Continued spectroscopic monitoring of the broad Hα profile in M81 is needed to constrain such models.
Bower Gary A.
Heckman Timothy M.
Richstone Douglas O.
Wilson Andrew S.
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