Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1988
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1988natur.331...46h&link_type=abstract
Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 331, Jan. 7, 1988, p. 46-48. NSF-NASA-supported research.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
60
Active Galactic Nuclei, Astronomical Models, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Black Holes (Astronomy), Elliptical Galaxies, Emission Spectra, H Alpha Line, Red Shift, Spectrum Analysis
Scientific paper
The emission-line spectra of several AGN have broad peaks which are significantly displaced in velocity with respect to the host galaxy. An interpretation of this effect in terms of orbital motion of a binary black hole predicts periods of a few centuries. It is pointed out here that recent measurements of the masses and sizes of many low-luminosity AGN imply orbital periods much shorter than this. In particular, it is found that the elliptical galaxy Arp 102B is the most likely candidate for observation of radial velocity variations; its period is expected to be about 3 yr. The H-alpha line profile of Arp 102B has been measured for 5 yr without detecting any change in velocity, and it is thus found that a rather restrictive observational test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis already exists, albeit for this one object.
Filippenko Alexei V.
Halpern Jules P.
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