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The broad emission line and continuum variations of Seyfert galaxies. I - Time scales and amplitudesSpectroscopic observations of 13 Seyfert 1 galaxies made from 1979 to 1984 at Palomar and Steward Observatories were analyzed for Balmer-line and optical continuum variability. The majority of the galaxies showed significant variations, particularly in the continuum. Typical peak-to-peak changes for H-beta and H-gamma integrated line fluxes were 100-200 percent, while the continua varied by 200-350 percent. In several cases, Balmer-line and continuum variations were found to be strongly correlated, as expected for photoionization by a central continuum source. However, these correlations were found to be highly nonlinear. Significant correlations were found between variability amplitude and global AGN properties such as luminosity. Moreover, a significant number of variations occurring on short time scales constrains the size of the broad-line region in Seyfert galaxies to about 90 lt-days across or less.
Document ID
19920061809
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rosenblatt, Edward I.
(California, University La Jolla, United States)
Malkan, Matthew A.
(California, University Los Angeles, United States)
Sargent, Wallace L. W.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Readhead, Anthony C. S.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Volume: 81
Issue: 1 Ju
ISSN: 0067-0049
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
92A44433
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-86-14510
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-70039
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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