Probing the origin of the two-component structure of broad line region by reverberation mapping of an extremely variable quasar

TL;DR

This study uses reverberation mapping of an extremely variable quasar to investigate the two-component structure of the broad line region, revealing distinct origins and behaviors of these components during state transitions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the two-component nature of the BLR by analyzing reverberation mapping data and spectral variations during quasar state changes.

Findings

The BLR has two distinct components with different locations and origins.

H$eta$ line profiles transition from double-peaked to single-peaked with brightness.

The black hole mass is estimated at approximately 4.4 billion solar masses.

Abstract

The physical origins of quasar components, such as the broad line region (BLR) and dust torus, remain under debate. To gain insights into them, we focused on Changing-State Quasars (CSQs) which provide a unique perspective through structural changes associated with accretion disk state transitions. We targeted SDSS J125809.31+351943.0, an extremely variable CSQ, to study its central core structure and kinematics. We conducted reverberation mapping with optical spectroscopy to explore the structure of the BLR and estimate the black hole mass. The results from H$\beta$ reverberation mapping indicated a black hole mass of $10^{9.64^{+0.11}_{-0.20}}\rm{M_\odot}$. Additionally, we analyzed variations in the optical to X-ray spectral indices, $\alpha_{\rm{ox}}$, before and after the state transition, to investigate the accretion disk. These variations in $\alpha_{\rm{ox}}$ and the Eddington ratio (from 0.4 \% to 2.4 \%) exhibitied behavior similar to state transitions observed in X-ray binary systems. Spectral analysis of H$\beta$ revealed a predominantly double-peaked profile during dim periods, transitioning to include a single-peaked component as the quasar brightened, suggesting that H$\beta$ contains a mixture of two components. Each of these components has its distinct characteristics: the first is a double-peaked profile that remains stable despite changes in the accretion rate, while the second is a variable single-peaked profile. Using time lags from reverberation mapping, we estimated the spatial relationships between these BLR components, the accretion disk, and the dust torus. Our results suggest that the BLR consists of two distinct components, each differing in location and origin.