Velocity-resolved reverberation mapping of five bright Seyfert 1 galaxies

TL;DR

This study measures black hole masses and broad-line region kinematics in five Seyfert 1 galaxies using velocity-resolved reverberation mapping, revealing velocity-dependent delays and changes over time.

Contribution

First velocity-resolved reverberation mapping results for five bright Seyfert 1 galaxies, providing new insights into black hole masses and broad-line region dynamics.

Findings

Black hole masses consistent with previous estimates.

Detection of velocity-dependent Hbeta lags in all five AGNs.

Observed changes in velocity delay patterns over five years.

Abstract

We present the first results from a reverberation-mapping campaign undertaken during the first half of 2012, with additional data on one AGN (NGC 3227) from a 2014 campaign. Our main goals are (1) to determine the black hole masses from continuum-Hbeta reverberation signatures, and (2) to look for velocity-dependent time delays that might be indicators of the gross kinematics of the broad-line region. We successfully measure Hbeta time delays and black hole masses for five AGNs, four of which have previous reverberation mass measurements. The values measured here are in agreement with earlier estimates, though there is some intrinsic scatter beyond the formal measurement errors. We observe velocity dependent Hbeta lags in each case, and find that the patterns have changed in the intervening five years for three AGNs that were also observed in 2007.