Geometry and kinematics of the broad emission line region in the lensed quasar Q2237+0305

TL;DR

This study uses microlensing-induced line distortions in a gravitationally lensed quasar to constrain the geometry, size, and kinematics of its broad emission line region, favoring a Keplerian disk model.

Contribution

It introduces a method to analyze BLR structure using microlensing effects, constraining models and sizes in a specific lensed quasar, Q2237+0305.

Findings

Favored a Keplerian disk model for the BLR.

Estimated BLR half-light radius of approximately 47 light-days.

Found the CIV BLR size consistent with reverberation mapping, but the Balmer line BLR is smaller.

Abstract

Line profile distortions are commonly observed in gravitationally lensed quasar spectra. These distortions are caused by microlensing from the stars in the lensing galaxy, which produce differential magnification of spatially and kinematically separated parts of the broad line region (BLR). The quasi-simultaneous visible and near-infrared spectroscopy of the lensed quasar Q2237+0305 reveals strong microlensing-induced line deformations in the high-ionization CIV $\lambda$ 1549 \AA and the low-ionization H$\alpha$ emission lines. We use this effect to constrain the BLR size, geometry, and kinematics in Q2237+0305. For this purpose, we modeled the deformation of the emission lines for three representative BLR models: a Keplerian disk, an equatorial wind, and a biconical polar wind. We considered various inclinations with respect to the line of sight. We find that the observed microlensing effect, characterized by a set of four indices, can only be reproduced by a subsample of the considered BLR models. The microlensing analysis favors a Keplerian disk model for the regions emitting the CIV and the H$\alpha$ emission lines. A polar wind model remains possible for the CIV BLR, although it is less likely. The equatorial wind model is totally excluded. A preferred inclination of the BLR of 40$\deg$ is found, in agreement with expectations for a type 1 AGN and past constraints on the accretion disk inclination. The half-light radius of the BLR is $ r_{\rm 1/2} \simeq$ 47$\pm$19 light-days, with no significant difference between the CIV and H$\alpha$ BLRs. The size of the CIV BLR agrees with the radius-luminosity relation derived from reverberation mapping, while the size of the Balmer line BLR is one order of magnitude smaller, possibly revealing different quasar properties at high luminosities and high accretion rates.