The SDSS-V Black Hole Mapper Reverberation Mapping Project: A Kinematically Variable Broad-Line Region and Consequences for Masses of Luminous Quasars

• Main Authors: Fries, Logan B, Trump, Jonathan R, Horne, Keith, Davis, Megan C, Grier, Catherine J, Shen, Yue, Anderson, Scott F, Dwelly, Tom, Homayouni, Y, Morrison, Sean, Runnoe, Jessie C, Trakhtenbrot, Benny, Assef, Roberto J, Bizyaev, Dmitry, Brandt, W. N, Breiding, Peter, Browstein, Joel, Chakraborty, Priyanka, Hall, P. B, Koekemoer, Anton M, Ibarra-Medel, Héctor J, Martínez-Aldama, Mary Loli, Negrete, C. Alenka, Pan, Kaike, Ricci, Claudio, Scheider, Donald P, Sharp, Hugh W, Smith, Theodore B, Stone, Zachary, Temple, Matthew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 18-09-2024
• Subjects: Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.12229

We present a velocity-resolved reverberation mapping analysis of the
hypervariable quasar RM160 (SDSS J141041.25+531849.0) at z = 0.359 with 153
spectroscopic epochs of data representing a ten-year baseline (2013-2023). We
split the baseline into two regimes based on the 3x flux increase in the light
curve: a 'low state' phase during the years 2013-2019 and a 'high state' phase
during the years 2022-2023. The velocity-resolved lag profiles (VRLP) indicate
that gas with different kinematics dominates the line emission in different
states. The H\b{eta} VRLP begins with a signature of inflow onto the BLR in the
'low state', while in the 'high state' it is flatter with less signature of
inflow. The H{\alpha} VRLP begins consistent with a virialized BLR in the 'low
state', while in the 'high state' shows a signature of inflow. The differences
in the kinematics between the Balmer lines and between the 'low state' and the
'high state' suggests complex BLR dynamics. We find that the BLR radius and
velocity (both FWHM and {\sigma}) do not obey a constant virial product
throughout the monitoring period. We find that BLR lags and continuum
luminosity are correlated, consistent with rapid response of the BLR gas to the
illuminating continuum. The BLR kinematic profile changes in unpredictable ways
that are not related to continuum changes and reverberation lag. Our
observations indicate that non-virial kinematics can significantly contribute
to observed line profiles, suggesting caution for black-hole mass estimation in
luminous and highly varying quasars like RM160.