We present improved black hole masses for 35 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based on a complete and consistent reanalysis of broad emission-line reverberation-mapping data From objects with multiple line measurements, we find that the highest precision measure of the virial product cτΔV2/G, where τ is the emission-line lag relative to continuum variations and ΔV is the emission-line width, is obtained by using the cross-correlation function centroid (as opposed to the cross-correlation function peak) for the time delay and the line dispersion (as opposed to FWHM) for the line width and by measuring the line width in the variable part of the spectrum Accurate line-width measurement depends critically on avoiding contaminating features, in particular the narrow components of the emission lines We find that the precision (or random component of the error) of reverberation-based black hole mass measurements is typically around 30%, comparable to the precision attained in measurement of black hole masses in quiescent galaxies by gas or stellar dynamical methods Based on results presented in a companion paper by Onken et al, we provide a zero-point calibration for the reverberation-based black hole mass scale by using the relationship between black hole mass and host-galaxy bulge velocity dispersion The scatter around this relationship implies that the typical systematic uncertainties in reverberation-based black hole masses are smaller than a factor of 3 We present a preliminary version of a mass-luminosity relationship that is much better defined than any previous attempt Scatter about the mass-luminosity relationship for these AGNs appears to be real and could be correlated with either Eddington ratio or object inclination

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Central masses and broad-line region sizes of active galactic nuclei. ii. a homogeneous analysis of a large reverberation-mapping database

We present an updated and revised analysis of the relationship between the H{beta} broad-line region (BLR) radius and the luminosity of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Specifically, we have carried out two-dimensional surface brightness decompositions of the host galaxies of nine new AGNs imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. The surface brightness decompositions allow us to create ''AGN-free'' images of the galaxies, from which we measure the starlight contribution to the optical luminosity measured through the ground-based spectroscopic aperture. We also incorporate 20 new reverberation-mapping measurements of the H{beta} time lag, which is assumed to yield the average H{beta} BLR radius. The final sample includes 41 AGNs covering four orders of magnitude in luminosity. The additions and updates incorporated here primarily affect the low-luminosity end of the R{sub BLR}-L relationship. The best fit to the relationship using a Bayesian analysis finds a slope of {alpha}= 0.533{sup +0.035}{sub -0.033}, consistent with previous work and with simple photoionization arguments. Only two AGNs appear to be outliers from the relationship, but both of them have monitoring light curves that raise doubt regarding the accuracy of their reported time lags. The scatter around the relationship is found to be 0.19more » {+-} 0.02 dex, but would be decreased to 0.13 dex by the removal of these two suspect measurements. A large fraction of the remaining scatter in the relationship is likely due to the inaccurate distances to the AGN host galaxies. Our results help support the possibility that the R{sub BLR}-L relationship could potentially be used to turn the BLRs of AGNs into standardizable candles. This would allow the cosmological expansion of the universe to be probed by a separate population of objects, and over a larger range of redshifts.« less

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/767/2/149/pdf

The Low-luminosity End of the Radius-Luminosity Relationship for Active Galactic Nuclei

We analyze a sample of optical light curves for 100 quasars, 70 of which have black hole mass estimates. Our sample is the largest and broadest used yet for modeling quasar variability. The sources in our sample have z < 2.8, 1042 λL λ(5100 A) 1046, and 106 M BH/M ☉ 1010. We model the light curves as a continuous time stochastic process, providing a natural means of estimating the characteristic timescale and amplitude of quasar variations. We employ a Bayesian approach to estimate the characteristic timescale and amplitude of flux variations; our approach is not affected by biases introduced from discrete sampling effects. We find that the characteristic timescales strongly correlate with black hole mass and luminosity, and are consistent with disk orbital or thermal timescales. In addition, the amplitude of short-timescale variations is significantly anticorrelated with black hole mass and luminosity. We interpret the optical flux fluctuations as resulting from thermal fluctuations that are driven by an underlying stochastic process, such as a turbulent magnetic field. In addition, the intranight variations in optical flux implied by our empirical model are 0.02 mag, consistent with current microvariability observations of radio-quiet quasars. Our stochastic model is therefore able to unify both long- and short-timescale optical variations in radio-quiet quasars as resulting from the same underlying process, while radio-loud quasars have an additional variability component that operates on timescales 1 day.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/698/1/895/pdf

Are the Variations in Quasar Optical Flux Driven by Thermal Fluctuations

We present high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images of all 35 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with optical reverberation-mapping results, which we have modeled to create a nucleus-free image of each AGN host galaxy. From the nucleus-free images, we determine the host-galaxy contribution to ground-based spectroscopic luminosity measurements at 5100 A. After correcting the luminosities of the AGNs for the contribution from starlight, we re-examine the Hβ R BLR-L relationship. Our best fit for the relationship gives a power-law slope of 0.52 with a range of 0.45-0.59 allowed by the uncertainties. This is consistent with our previous findings, and thus still consistent with the naive assumption that all AGNs are simply luminosity-scaled versions of each other. We discuss various consistency checks relating to the galaxy modeling and starlight contributions, as well as possible systematic errors in the current set of reverberation measurements from which we determine the form of the R BLR-L relationship.

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The Radius-Luminosity Relationship For Active Galactic Nuclei: The Effect of Host-Galaxy Starlight On Luminosity Measurements. II. The Full Sample of Reverberation-Mapped AGNs

We have obtained high-resolution images of the central regions of 14 reverberation-mapped active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys High Resolution Camera to account for host-galaxy starlight contamination of measured AGN luminosities. We measure the host-galaxy starlight contribution to the continuum luminosity at 5100 ? through the typical ground-based slit position and geometry used in the reverberation-mapping campaigns. We find that removing the starlight contribution results in a significant correction to the luminosity of each AGN both for lower luminosity sources, as expected, but also for the higher luminosity sources such as the PG quasars. After accounting for the host galaxy starlight, we revisit the well-known broad-line region radius-luminosity relationship for nearby AGNs. We find the power-law slope of the relationship for the H? line to be 0.518 ? 0.039, shallower than what was previously reported and consistent with the slope of 0.5 expected from the naive theoretical assumption that all AGNs have, on average, the same ionizing spectrum and the same ionization parameter and gas density in the H? line-emitting region.

/pdf/the-radius-luminosity-relationship-for-active-galactic-kmeq5n566r.pdf

The Radius-Luminosity Relationship for Active Galactic Nuclei: The Effect of Host-Galaxy Starlight on Luminosity Measurements

Mid-infrared images of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 279 obtained with the ISO satellite are presented together with the results of a one-year monitoring campaign of the 2.5-11.7 mum spectrum. Contemporaneous optical photometric and spectrophotometric observations are also presented. The galaxy appears as a point-like source at the resolution of the ISOCAM instrument (4-5 "). The 2.5-11.7 mum average spectrum of the nucleus in Mrk 279 shows a strong power law continuum with alpha = -0.80 +/- 0.05 (F nu proportional to nu (alpha)) and weak PAK emission features. The Mrk 279 spectral energy distribution shows a mid-IR bump, which extends from 2 to 15-20 mum The mid-IR bump is consistent with thermal emission from dust grains at a distance of greater than or similar to 100 It-d. No significant variations of the mid-IR flux have been detected during our observing campaign, consistent with the relatively low amplitude (similar to 10% rms) of the optical variability during the campaign. The time delay for H beta line emission in response to the optical continuum variations is tau = 16.7(-5.6)(+5.3), days, consistent with previous measurements.

/pdf/monitoring-of-the-optical-and-2-5-11-7-mu-m-spectrum-and-mid-3rhqbewhmy.pdf

Monitoring of the optical and 2.5-11.7 mu m spectrum and mid-IR imaging of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 279 with ISO

Context. Highly ionised absorbers and the frequent occurrence of relativistically broad iron fluorescence lines characterize the 0.2-10 keV spectra of (soft) X-ray weak quasars. Aims. We constrain the physical conditions of the absorber and the broad iron line of the X-ray weak quasar PG 2112+059 in greater detail than in previous studies. Methods. We analyse a 75 ks XMM-Newton observation of PG 2112+059 performed in November 2005 and compare it with a 15 ks XMM-Newton observation taken in May 2003. Results. PG 2112+059 was found in a deep minimum state as its 0.2-12 keV flux decreased by a factor of 10 in comparison to the May 2003 observation. During the deep minimum state the spectra show strong emission in excess of the continuum in the 3-6 keV region. The excess emission corresponds to an ${EW} = 26.1~\rm{keV}$ whereas its shape resembles that of heavily absorbed objects.  The spectra of both observations of PG 2112+059 can be explained statistically by a combination of two absorbers where one shows a high column density, $N_{\rm H} \rm \sim 4.5 \times 10^{23}~cm^{-2}$, and the other high ionisation parameters. As the ionisation parameter of the high flux state, $\rm \xi \sim 34~erg\,cm\,s^{-1}$, is lower than the value found for the deep minimum state, $\rm \xi \sim 110~erg\,cm\,s^{-1}$, either the absorbers are physically different or the absorbing material is moving with respect to the X-ray source. The spectra can also be explained by a continuum plus X-ray ionised reflection on the accretion disk, seen behind a warm absorber. The ionisation parameter of the high state ($\rm \xi \sim 5.6 \; erg \;cm\;s^{-1}$) is higher than the ionisation parameter of the deep minimum state ($\rm \xi \sim 0.2 \; erg \;cm\;s^{-1}$), as expected for a stationary absorber. The values found for the ionisation parameters are in the range typical for AGNs. The spectra observed during the deep minimum state are reflection dominated and show no continuum emission. These can be understood in the context of light bending near the supermassive black hole as predicted by Minutti and Fabian. Conclusions. Light bending offers an alternative explanation for X-ray weak quasars and might challenge the suggestion that absorption is the primary cause of their X-ray weakness. If on a class level the weakness of X-ray weak quasars is caused by light bending then they offer unique possibilities to observe accretion disks near the supermassive black hole and even to test general relativity in the strong field.

/pdf/xmm-newton-observation-of-the-deep-minimum-state-of-pg-2112-4t3rvso1ap.pdf

XMM-Newton observation of the deep minimum state of PG 2112+059 - A spectrum dominated by reflection from the accretion disk?

We analyse a 75ks XMM-Newton observation of PG 2112+059 performed in November 2005 and compare it with a 15ks XMM-Newton observation taken in May 2003. PG 2112+059 was found in a deep minimum state as its 0.2-12 keV flux decreased by a factor of 10 in comparison to the May 2003 observation. During the deep minimum state the spectra show strong emission in excess of the continuum in the 3-6 keV region. The excess emission corresponds to an EW = 26.1 keV whereas its shape resembles that of heavily absorbed objects. The spectra of both observations of PG 2112+059 can be explained statistically by a combination of two absorbers where one shows a high column density, $N_{H} \sim 4.5 \times 10^{23} cm^{-2}$, and the other high ionisation parameters. As the ionisation parameter of the high flux state, $\xi \sim 34 erg cm s^{-1}$, is lower than the value found for the deep minimum state, $\xi \sim 110 erg cm s^{-1}$, either the absorbers are physically different or the absorbing material is moving with respect to the X-ray source. The spectra can also be explained by a continuum plus X-ray ionised reflection on the accretion disk, seen behind a warm absorber. The ionisation parameter of the high state ($\xi \sim 5.6 erg cm s^{-1}$) is higher than the ionisation parameter of the deep minimum state ($\xi \sim 0.2 erg cm s^{-1}$), as expected for a stationary absorber. The values found for the ionisation parameters are in the range typical for AGNs. The spectra observed during the deep minimum state are reflection dominated and show no continuum emission. These can be understood in the context of light bending near the supermassive black hole as predicted by Minutti and Fabian.

/pdf/xmm-newton-observation-of-the-deep-minimum-state-of-pg-2112-5fsxa9wjn8.pdf

P. M. Rodriguez-Pascual

Papers

Monitoring of the optical and 2.5-11.7 mu m spectrum and mid-IR imaging of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 279 with ISO

XMM-Newton observation of the deep minimum state of PG 2112+059 - A spectrum dominated by reflection from the accretion disk?

XMM-Newton observation of the deep minimum state of PG 2112+059: A spectrum dominated by reflection from the accretion disk?