The dynamics of the broad-line-emitting regions of active galactic nuclei and quasars. II - Discrete cloud models and line profile asymmetries

Details The dynamics of the broad-line-emitting regions of active galactic nuclei and quasars. II - Discrete cloud models and line profile asymmetries The dynamics of the broad-line-emitting regions of active galactic nuclei and quasars. II - Discrete cloud models and line profile asymmetries

Apr 1981

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981apj...245..396c&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 245, Apr. 15, 1981, p. 396-405. Research supported by the Ohio State University.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

75

Active Galactic Nuclei, Line Spectra, Quasars, Spectral Line Width, Emission Spectra, Galactic Structure, Ionizing Radiation, Optical Thickness

Scientific paper

The discrete cloud concept for the broad-line-emitting regions of active galactic nuclei is discussed. It is deduced, from numerical simulation, that the irregularities in the observed profiles can be reproduced by 10,000 to 100,000 discrete clouds or families of clouds, which are shown to be most probably optically thick to ionizing radiation. This latter constraint, coupled with the general logarithmic shape of the profiles, implies that the region is either in steady-state gravitational infall or ballistic outflow. If the emitting regions are assumed to be similar in objects with Balmer-line asymmetries and in those with symmetric line profiles, then an additional constraint is imposed. It is shown that strong asymmetries similar to those observed cannot be reproduced in models with infall. Ballistic models can account for the observed asymmetry with a very simple mechanism.

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