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Title: Determining inclinations of active galactic nuclei via their narrow-line region kinematics. II. Correlation with observed properties

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are axisymmetric systems to first order; their observed properties are likely strong functions of inclination with respect to our line of sight, yet the specific inclinations of all but a few AGNs are generally unknown. By determining the inclinations and geometries of nearby Seyfert galaxies using the kinematics of their narrow-line regions (NLRs) and comparing them with observed properties, we find strong correlations between inclination and total hydrogen column density, infrared color, and Hβ FWHM. These correlations provide evidence that the orientation of AGNs with respect to our line of sight affects how we perceive them beyond the Seyfert 1/2 dichotomy. They can also be used to constrain three-dimensional models of AGN components such as the broad-line region and torus. Additionally, we find weak correlations between AGN luminosity and several modeled NLR parameters, which suggests that the NLR geometry and kinematics are dependent to some degree on the AGN's radiation field.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Astronomy Offices, 25 Park Place, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30303 (United States)
  2. Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Sciences, Department of Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064 (United States)
  3. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22357194
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 785; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; AXIAL SYMMETRY; COLOR; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; CORRELATIONS; DENSITY; GALAXY NUCLEI; HYDROGEN; INCLINATION; LUMINOSITY; SEYFERT GALAXIES; THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS

Citation Formats

Fischer, T. C., Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., Schmitt, H. R., and Turner, T. J., E-mail: fischer@chara.gsu.edu. Determining inclinations of active galactic nuclei via their narrow-line region kinematics. II. Correlation with observed properties. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/25.
Fischer, T. C., Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., Schmitt, H. R., & Turner, T. J., E-mail: fischer@chara.gsu.edu. Determining inclinations of active galactic nuclei via their narrow-line region kinematics. II. Correlation with observed properties. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/25
Fischer, T. C., Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., Schmitt, H. R., and Turner, T. J., E-mail: fischer@chara.gsu.edu. 2014. "Determining inclinations of active galactic nuclei via their narrow-line region kinematics. II. Correlation with observed properties". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/25.
@article{osti_22357194,
title = {Determining inclinations of active galactic nuclei via their narrow-line region kinematics. II. Correlation with observed properties},
author = {Fischer, T. C. and Crenshaw, D. M. and Kraemer, S. B. and Schmitt, H. R. and Turner, T. J., E-mail: fischer@chara.gsu.edu},
abstractNote = {Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are axisymmetric systems to first order; their observed properties are likely strong functions of inclination with respect to our line of sight, yet the specific inclinations of all but a few AGNs are generally unknown. By determining the inclinations and geometries of nearby Seyfert galaxies using the kinematics of their narrow-line regions (NLRs) and comparing them with observed properties, we find strong correlations between inclination and total hydrogen column density, infrared color, and Hβ FWHM. These correlations provide evidence that the orientation of AGNs with respect to our line of sight affects how we perceive them beyond the Seyfert 1/2 dichotomy. They can also be used to constrain three-dimensional models of AGN components such as the broad-line region and torus. Additionally, we find weak correlations between AGN luminosity and several modeled NLR parameters, which suggests that the NLR geometry and kinematics are dependent to some degree on the AGN's radiation field.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/25},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22357194}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 1,
volume = 785,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}