Testing the Accretion Disk Line-Profile Hypothesis in ARP 102B: CYCLE4MEDIUM

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Hst Proposal Id #5428 Quasars &Amp, Agn Radio Galaxies

Scientific paper

Arp 102B is the prototype of a set of ten broad-line radio galaxies whose hydrogen Balmer line profiles are double-peaked, and which share several additional distinguishing optical characteristics. We recently established the reality of this class through a comprehensive optical spectroscopic survey of radio-loud AGNs at z < 0.4 (Eracleous & Halpern 1992, 1993). We now propose to obtain moderate-resolution spectra to study the UV emission lines and nonstellar continuum of Arp 102B. Several theories have been suggested to explain the unusual line profiles; the most detailed is a model for emission from the photoionized atmosphere of an accretion disk. The Balmer lines are the only broad lines detected in ground-based spectra, and the optical nucleus is dominated by starlight. Both of these limitations restrict further progress in understanding the nature of this peculiar spectrum. But observations of the UV emission lines and continuum could test the models by (1) measuring line profiles of species with different ionization potentials, and (2) measuring the nonstellar continuum, which seems different from that of most AGNs. Disk photoionization models predict line shapes which are different among the UV lines. The same model predicts an ionizing continuum which is nonthermal, arising in an optically thin, ion-supported torus, rather than a blackbody accretion disk. If supported by the results of HST spectra, our study of Arp 102B could provide the most direct view of an accretion disk in an AGN.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Testing the Accretion Disk Line-Profile Hypothesis in ARP 102B: CYCLE4MEDIUM 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 Testing the Accretion Disk Line-Profile Hypothesis in ARP 102B: CYCLE4MEDIUM, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Testing the Accretion Disk Line-Profile Hypothesis in ARP 102B: CYCLE4MEDIUM will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1255770

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.