Emission-line profiles and kinematics of the narrow-line region in Seyfert and radio galaxies

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (419) References (59) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Emission-line profiles and kinematics of the narrow-line region in Seyfert and radio galaxies. Heckman, T. M. ; Miley, G. K. ; van Breugel, W. J. M. ; Butcher, H. R. Abstract Profile measurements of the (O II) 5007 A narrow emission lines in 36 Seyfert and radio galaxies are made, and spatial information along a 2 x 16 arcsec slit is obtained. Parameters of widths and asymmetries of (O III) 5007 A profiles are also defined and tabulated for each galaxy. The majority of profiles are asymmetric with a sharp falloff to the red, and velocities derived from the narrow lines are systematically negative. Good correlations are found between the degree of asymmetry of the lines and the H(alpha)/H(beta) ratio, and between the degree of asymmetry and the O II/O III and O I/O III ratios. A relation between line widths and absolute luminosity of steep-spectrum, kiloparsec-sized, nuclear radio sources in Seyfert 2 galaxies is confirmed, and the implications of these results are considered. The data suggest that the narrow emission-line region consists of radially flowing gas and dust, and the presence of dust affects the efficiency of photoionization. Finally, evidence is presented which suggests that kinematics and physical conditions of the narrow-line emitting gas are not strongly coupled. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: July 1981 DOI: 10.1086/159050 Bibcode: 1981ApJ...247..403H Keywords: Emission Spectra; Galactic Nuclei; Radio Galaxies; Seyfert Galaxies; Spectral Line Width; Cosmic Dust; Cosmic Plasma; Gas Ionization; H Lines; Interstellar Gas; Line Spectra; Luminosity; Oxygen; Relativistic Plasmas; Thermal Plasmas; Velocity Distribution; Astronomy full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (36) NED (36)