Reverberation Mapping of Optical Emission Lines in Five Active Galaxies

TL;DR

This study reports initial optical reverberation mapping results for five active galaxies, measuring black hole masses and BLR structure, with high-quality spectra indicating promising future velocity-resolved analyses.

Contribution

First optical reverberation mapping campaign targeting diverse AGN types, providing black hole mass measurements and insights into BLR stratification and line responsivities.

Findings

Black hole masses measured for all five AGN.

Radial stratification of the broad-line region confirmed.

High signal-to-noise spectra enable future velocity-resolved studies.

Abstract

We present the first results from an optical reverberation mapping campaign executed in 2014, targeting the active galactic nuclei (AGN) MCG+08-11-011, NGC 2617, NGC 4051, 3C 382, and Mrk 374. Our targets have diverse and interesting observational properties, including a "changing look" AGN and a broad-line radio galaxy. Based on continuum-H$\beta$ lags, we measure black hole masses for all five targets. We also obtain H$\gamma$ and He{\sc ii}\,$\lambda 4686$ lags for all objects except 3C 382. The He{\sc ii}\,$\lambda 4686$ lags indicate radial stratification of the BLR, and the masses derived from different emission lines are in general agreement. The relative responsivities of these lines are also in qualitative agreement with photoionization models. These spectra have extremely high signal-to-noise ratios (100--300 per pixel) and there are excellent prospects for obtaining velocity-resolved reverberation signatures.