scholarly journals A geometric probe of cosmology – I. Gravitational lensing time delays and quasar reverberation mapping

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (1) ◽  
pp. 1102-1109
Author(s):  
Angela L H Ng ◽  
Geraint F Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Time Delays ◽  
Angular Diameter ◽  
Distance Ratio ◽  
Angular Diameter Distance ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Source Effects ◽  
Spectroscopic Monitoring ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Image Separation

ABSTRACT We present a novel, purely geometric probe of cosmology based on measurements of differential time delays between images of strongly lensed quasars due to finite source effects. Our approach is solely dependent on cosmology via a ratio of angular diameter distances, the image separation, and the source size. It thereby entirely avoids the challenges of lens modelling that conventionally limit time delay cosmography, and instead entails the lensed reverberation mapping of the quasar broad-line region. We demonstrate that differential time delays are measurable with short-cadence spectroscopic monitoring of lensed quasars, through the timing of kinematically identified features within the broad emission lines. This provides a geometric determination of an angular diameter distance ratio complementary to standard probes, and as a result is a potentially powerful new method of constraining cosmology.

scholarly journals Optical continuum photometric reverberation mapping of the Seyfert-1 galaxy Mrk509

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Pozo Nuñez ◽  
N Gianniotis ◽  
J Blex ◽  
T Lisow ◽  
R Chini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Delays ◽  
Narrow Band ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Optical Continuum ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Flux Calibration

Abstract We present the results of a two year optical continuum photometric reverberation mapping campaign carried out on the nucleus of the Seyfert-1 galaxy Mrk509. Specially designed narrow-band filters were used in order to mitigate the line and pseudo-continuum contamination of the signal from the broad line region, while allowing for high-accuracy flux-calibration over a large field of view. We obtained light curves with a sub-day time sampling and typical flux uncertainties of 1%. The high photometric precision allowed us to measure inter-band continuum time delays of up to ∼2 days across the optical range. The time delays are consistent with the relation τ∝λ4/3 predicted for an optically thick and geometrically thin accretion disk model. The size of the disk is, however, a factor of 1.8 larger than predictions based on the standard thin-disk theory. We argue that, for the particular case of Mrk509, a larger black hole mass due to the unknown geometry scaling factor can reconcile the difference between the observations and theory.

scholarly journals Reverberation Mapping Analysis of the Broad-Line Region in Seyfert Galaxy NGC 4151

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 424-425
Author(s):  
S.J. Xue ◽  
F.Z. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Emission Line ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Seyfert Galaxy ◽  
Broad Line ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Ngc 4151 ◽  
Broad Line Region ◽  
Spectroscopic Monitoring ◽  
Line Region ◽  
The Continuum

One of the primary goals of AGN variability studies has been to determine the size of broad-line region (BLR) through the reverberation mapping technique. In a recent international multiwavelength spectroscopic monitoring campaign, NGC 4151 has been observed intensively by ground-based telescopes for a period of over 2 months, with a typical temporal resolution of 1 day. The main result from this optical campaign is that finding the variation in the emission line flux (Hβ or Hα) lagging the continuum by 0-3 days (1993 campaign: Kaspi et al. 1996). This is in contrast to the past results in which a time lag of 9±2 days was found for the same emission line (1988 campaign: Maoz et al. 1991). Such a BLR “size problem” may be caused by a different variability timescale of the ionizing continuum or a real change in BLR gas distribution in the 5.5 yr interval between the two watch campaigns. In order to clarify which of the two possibilities is most likely the real case, we performed further reverberation analysis on both optical datasets.

scholarly journals Reverberation Mapping Results from MDM Observatory

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 201-201
Author(s):  
Kelly D. Denney ◽  
B. M. Peterson ◽  
R. W. Pogge ◽  
M. C. Bentz ◽  
C. M. Gaskell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Time Delay ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Mass Measurements ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Spectroscopic Monitoring ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Optical Continuum ◽  
Black Hole Masses

Reverberation mapping takes advantage of the presence of a time delay or lag, τ, between continuum and emission line flux variations observed through spectroscopic monitoring campaigns to infer the radius of the broad-line region (BLR) and, subsequently, the central black hole mass in type 1 AGNs. We present results from a multi-month reverberation mapping campaign undertaken primarily at MDM Observatory with supporting observations from around the world. We measure BLR radii and black hole masses for six objects. The primary goal of this campaign was to obtain either new or improved Hβ reverberation lag measurements for several relatively low-luminosity AGNs. Using cross correlation techniques to measure the time delay between the mean optical continuum flux density around 5100 Å and the integrated Hβ flux, we determine the Hβ lags and black hole mass measurements listed in columns 2 and 3 of Table 1, respectively. Column 4 tells if this measurement is new, an improvement meant to replace a previous, less reliable measurement, or simply an additional measurement not used to replace a previous value. The complete results from this study are currently being prepared for publication. A subsequent velocity-resolved analysis of the Hβ response shows that three of the six primary targets demonstrate kinematic signatures (column 5) of infall, outflow, and non-radial virialized motions (see Denney et al. 2009).

scholarly journals The Kinematics of Quasar Broad Emission Line Regions Using a Disk-Wind Model

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suk Yee Yong ◽  
Rachel L. Webster ◽  
Anthea L. King ◽  
Nicholas F. Bate ◽  
Matthew J. O’Dowd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emission Line ◽  
Line Profile ◽  
Inclination Angle ◽  
Opening Angle ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
Wind Model ◽  
Disk Wind ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Broad Emission ◽  
Line Region

AbstractThe structure and kinematics of the broad line region in quasars are still unknown. One popular model is the disk-wind model that offers a geometric unification of a quasar based on the viewing angle. We construct a simple kinematical disk-wind model with a narrow outflowing wind angle. The model is combined with radiative transfer in the Sobolev, or high velocity, limit. We examine how angle of viewing affects the observed characteristics of the emission line. The line profiles were found to exhibit distinct properties depending on the orientation, wind opening angle, and region of the wind where the emission arises.At low inclination angle (close to face-on), we find that the shape of the emission line is asymmetric, narrow, and significantly blueshifted. As the inclination angle increases (close to edge-on), the line profile becomes more symmetric, broader, and less blueshifted. Additionally, lines that arise close to the base of the disk wind, near the accretion disk, tend to be broad and symmetric. Single-peaked line profiles are recovered for the intermediate and equatorial wind. The model is also able to reproduce a faster response in either the red or blue sides of the line profile, consistent with reverberation mapping studies.

scholarly journals Toward Precision Measurement of Central Black Hole Masses

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley M. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Line Region ◽  
The Masses ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Black Hole Masses ◽  
Intrinsic Scatter ◽  
Direct And Indirect Methods

AbstractWe review briefly direct and indirect methods of measuring the masses of black holes in galactic nuclei, and then focus attention on supermassive black holes in active nuclei, with special attention to results from reverberation mapping and their limitations. We find that the intrinsic scatter in the relationship between the AGN luminosity and the broad-line region size is very small, ~0.11 dex, comparable to the uncertainties in the better reverberation measurements. We also find that the relationship between reverberation-based black hole masses and host-galaxy bulge luminosities also seems to have surprisingly little intrinsic scatter, ~0.17 dex. We note, however, that there are still potential systematics that could affect the overall mass calibration at the level of a factor of a few.

scholarly journals THE MEGAMASER COSMOLOGY PROJECT. II. THE ANGULAR-DIAMETER DISTANCE TO UGC 3789

2010 ◽  
Vol 718 (2) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Braatz ◽  
M. J. Reid ◽  
E. M. L. Humphreys ◽  
C. Henkel ◽  
J. J. Condon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Angular Diameter ◽  
Angular Diameter Distance

scholarly journals Reverberation Mapping and Broad-Line Region Models

1997 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 138-145
Author(s):  
D. Maoz
Keyword(s):  
Broad Line ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Broad Line Region ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Mapping Point

AbstractI review what we have learned about the BLR from reverberation mapping, point to some problems and complications that have emerged, and outline some future directions.

A Photoionization Method for Estimating Black Hole Masses in Quasars

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S342) ◽  
pp. 270-271
Author(s):  
C. Alenka Negrete ◽  
Deborah Dultzin ◽  
Paola Marziani ◽  
Jack W. Sulentic ◽  
M. L. Martínez-Aldama
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
High Redshift ◽  
Broad Line ◽  
Reverberation Mapping ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Broad Line Region ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Black Hole Masses

AbstractWe present a method that uses photoionization codes (CLOUDY) to estimate the supermassive black hole masses (MBH) for quasars at low and high redshift. This method is based on the determination of the physical conditions of the broad line region (BLR) using observational diagnostic diagrams from line ratios in the UV. We also considered that the density and metallicity of the BLR in quasars at high z could be different from those at the nearby Universe. The computed black hole masses obtained using this method are in agreement with those derived from the method of reverberation mapping.

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