BALQSO Spectra Explained by Shock Disruption of Galactic Clouds

Abstract

Blue-shifted Broad Absorption Lines (BALs) detected in quasar's spectra are indicative of AGN outflows. We show, using 2D hydrodynamical simulations, that disruption of interstellar clouds by a fast AGN wind can lead to formation of cold, dense high speed blobs that give rise to broad absorption features in the transmission spectrum of the AGN continuum source. For a wind velocity of $0.1c$ and sufficiently high cloud density ($n_c$ < $10^4$ cm${}^{-3}$, depending on size), absorption troughs with velocities up to about $3000$ km s${}^{-1}$ can be produced. For slower winds and/or lower cloud density the anticipated velocity of the absorbing clouds should be smaller.

10 pages, 8 figures

References in corpus (3)

• PLUTO: a Numerical Code for Computational Astrophysics
• Dynamics of Dusty Radiation Pressure Driven Shells and Clouds: Fast Outflows from Galaxies, Star Clusters, Massive Stars, and AGN
• Energy- and momentum-conserving AGN feedback outflows

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Stratified disc wind models for the AGN broad-line region: ultraviolet, optical and X-ray properties
• On The Fine Tuning and Physical Origin of Line-Locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies