Comparing Hbeta Line Profiles in the 4D Eigenvector 1 Context
Abstract
We describe a 4D Eigenvector 1 (4DE1) space that serves as a surrogate H-R diagram for quasars. It provides a context for describing and unifying differences between all broad line AGN. Quasar spectra can be averaged in a non-random way using 4DE1 just as stellar spectra can be averaged non-randomly within the OBAFGKM classification sequence. We find that quasars with FWHM H_beta less than (Population A) and greater than (Population B) 4000 km/s show many significant differences that may point to an actual dichotomy. Broad line profile measures and fits reenforce the idea of a dichotomy because they are fundamentally different: Pop.A - Lorentzian-like and Pop.B - double Gaussian. The differences have implications both for BH mass estimation and for inferences about source structure and kinematics.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0911.4220,
title = {Comparing Hbeta Line Profiles in the 4D Eigenvector 1 Context},
author = {J. W. Sulentic and P. Marziani and S. Zamfir},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0911.4220},
year = {2014}
}
Comments
11 pages, 4 figures