Reverberation Mapping Results for Five Seyfert 1 Galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses reverberation mapping to measure black hole masses and broad line region sizes in five Seyfert 1 galaxies, improving previous data and confirming photoionization physics models.

Contribution

It provides new and refined measurements of black hole masses and broad line regions for five Seyfert 1 galaxies, including one new object, using high sampling-rate data.

Findings

Improved black hole mass estimates for four galaxies.

Consistent broad line region sizes with photoionization models.

First measurements for PG2130+099.

Abstract

We present the results from a detailed analysis of photometric and spectrophotometric data on five Seyfert 1 galaxies observed as a part of a recent reverberation mapping program. The data were collected at several observatories over a 140-day span beginning in 2010 August and ending in 2011 January. We obtained high sampling-rate light curves for Mrk 335, Mrk 1501, 3C120, Mrk 6, and PG2130+099, from which we have measured the time lag between variations in the 5100 Angstrom continuum and the H-beta broad emission line. We then used these measurements to calculate the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of each of these galaxies. Our new measurements substantially improve previous measurements of MBH and the size of the broad line-emitting region for four sources and add a measurement for one new object. Our new measurements are consistent with photoionization physics regulating the location of the broad line region in active galactic nuclei.