Model for the variable continuum of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548

Technical Report · Fri Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5482020

Wamsteker, W; Benvenuti, P

The variations of NGC 5548 as observed by IUE are analyzed. The results indicate that the amplitude of the variation is largest at the shorter UV wavelengths. The implications of this wavelength dependence are of importance for the continuum modeling. A fit to a simultaneously obtained UV and optical spectra based on the Fe II fluorescence model of Netzer and Wills is shown to give an extremely good match with the data. The results presented show that the spectrum of the Seyfert I galaxy NGC 5548 can be fairly well represented by a combination of a single power law continuum, Fe II lines, Balmer lines, and continuum and stellar variability data suggest that the variations in the strength of the power law spectrum are not accompanied by large changes in the spectral index. Apparent spectral index variations can occur due to the difference in relative importance of individual components at different wavelengths.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5482020
• Report Number(s): N-85-20985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELEMENTS
GALAXIES
IRON
METALS
NEBULAE
SEYFERT GALAXIES
SPECTRA
STELLAR RADIATION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA