A new cosmological distance measure using AGN

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method for measuring cosmological distances using active galactic nuclei (AGN), enabling distance estimates up to redshift 4 and aiding in understanding dark energy and gravity.

Contribution

It presents the first accurate luminosity distance measure using AGN based on the relationship between AGN luminosity and broad line region radius.

Findings

Distance measurements extend to redshift ~4.

AGN-based distances are consistent with existing methods.

Potential to probe dark energy variations at high redshift.

Abstract

Accurate distances to celestial objects are key to establishing the age and energy density of the Universe and the nature of dark energy. A distance measure using active galactic nuclei (AGN) has been sought for more than forty years, as they are extremely luminous and can be observed at very large distances. We report here the discovery of an accurate luminosity distance measure using AGN. We use the tight relationship between the luminosity of an AGN and the radius of its broad line region established via reverberation mapping to determine the luminosity distances to a sample of 38 AGN. All reliable distance measures up to now have been limited to moderate redshift -- AGN will, for the first time, allow distances to be estimated to z~4, where variations of dark energy and alternate gravity theories can be probed.