Balmer line shifts in quasars

Abstract

We offer a broad review of Balmer line phenomenology in type 1 active galactic nuclei, briefly sum- marising luminosity and radio loudness effects, and discussing interpretation in terms of nebular physics along the 4D eigenvector 1 sequence of quasars. We stress that relatively rare, peculiar Balmer line profiles (i.e., with large shifts with respect to the rest frame or double and multiple peaked) that start attracted attentions since the 1970s are still passable of multiple dynamical interpretation. More mainstream objects are still not fully understood as well, since competing dynamical models and geometries are possible. Further progress may come from inter-line comparison across the 4D Eigenvector 1 sequence.

Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science, Special Issue on Line Shifts in Astrophysics and Laboratory Plasma

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• The phylogeny of quasars and the ontogeny of their central black holes
• Test of the Formation mechanism of the Broad Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei