Universal mass-luminosity relation for quasars and active galactic nuclei

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/184525· OSTI ID:5308385

Wandel, A; Yahil, A

The masses of the central sources in quasars and active galaxies are determined, assuming the H..beta.. line velocity widths are gravitationally induced, and using the H..beta.. luminosities to estimate the distances of the broad-line regions (BLR) from the central sources. It is found that the continuum luminosities are proportional to the masses thus determined. The average ratio of the optical continuum luminosity to the Eddington luminosity is 0.01, with a scatter of less than a factor of 3, over four orders of magnitude in luminosity. In addition, it is shown that the ratio of X-ray to H..beta.. luminosity, which in this picture is proportional to the ionization parameter, is anticorrelated with the total luminosity. This supports previous findings that the ionization parameter in the BLR of Seyfert nuclei is higher than that of quasars.

• Research Organization: Astronomy Program, University of Maryland
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-80ER10719
• OSTI ID: 5308385
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 295:1; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BALMER LINES
CORRELATIONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
IONIZATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINOSITY
MASS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
SEYFERT GALAXIES
X RADIATION