Observational evidence for thin AGN disksAGN spectrum and spectral features, polarization, inclination, and X-ray line and continuum reflection features are discussed in a critical way in order to determine the ones that are the least model-dependent. The sign and strength of absorption and emission edges are found to be model-dependent, and relativistic broadening and shifting makes them hard to detect. The presence or absence of the predicted Lyman edge polarization feature may be used as a decisive test for thin, bare AGN disks. Other good model-independent tests are several inclination-related line and continuum correlations in big AGN samples. It is shown that electron temperature near the surface of the disk can greatly exceed the disk equilibrium temperature, which causes deviations from LTE. This effect must be incorporated into realistic disk models.
Document ID
19930045823
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Netzer, Hagai (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD; Wise Observatory; Tel Aviv Univ., Israel)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: In: Testing the AGN paradigm; Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Topical Astrophysics Conference, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Oct. 14-16, 1991 (A93-29801 11-90)