Radius-luminosity and mass-luminosity relationships for active galactic nuclei

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185977· OSTI ID:5732337

Koratkar, A P; Gaskell, C M ^[1]

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1. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD (USA) Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor (USA)

Broad-line region (BLR) sizes derived from spectral variability and BLR line widths are used to directly derive the mass (M) of the central objects of ten active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in a uniform manner. It is shown that the luminosity-weighted C IV 1549-emitting BLR radius (R) correlates with the bolometric luminosity L(Bol) and is consistent with R about sq rt L(Bol). The measurements also permit a verification of the Dibai mass-luminosity (M-L) relationship (previously derived indirectly). It is found that L(Bol) is proportional to M exp (1.1 + or - 0.3). It is found that the efficiency factor epsilon, defined as the ratio of L(Bol) to the Eddington luminosity increases from 0.03 in the low-luminosity Seyferts up to 0.06 in the most luminous objects in the sample. 19 refs.

• Research Organization: Space Telescope Science Inst., Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5732337
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 370; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
BOLOMETERS
BRIGHTNESS
CALCULATION METHODS
CORRELATIONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
LINE WIDTHS
LUMINOSITY
MASS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEYFERT GALAXIES
SPECTRA