On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies
Line locking (LL) of absorption-line systems is a clear signature of the dynamical importance of radiation-pressure force in driving astrophysical flows, with recent findings suggesting that it may be common in quasars exhibiting multiple intrinsic narrow absorption-line (NAL) systems. In this work,...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb541 |
| _version_ | 1797695778368520192 |
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| author | Tiffany R. Lewis Doron Chelouche |
| author_facet | Tiffany R. Lewis Doron Chelouche |
| author_sort | Tiffany R. Lewis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Line locking (LL) of absorption-line systems is a clear signature of the dynamical importance of radiation-pressure force in driving astrophysical flows, with recent findings suggesting that it may be common in quasars exhibiting multiple intrinsic narrow absorption-line (NAL) systems. In this work, we probe the phase space conducive to LL and follow the detailed kinematics of those systems that may lock at the velocity separation of the C iv λ λ 1548.19, 1550.77 doublet. We find that a small volume of the phase-phase admits LL, suggesting a high degree of fine-tuning between the physical properties of locked systems. The stability of LL against quasar luminosity variations is quantified with implications for the long-term variability amplitude of quasars and the velocity-separation statistic between multiple NAL systems. The high occurrence of LL by the C iv doublet implies that the hidden extreme-UV emission from quasars is unlikely to be significantly underestimated by current models. Further, the ratio of the LL velocity to the outflow velocity may serve as a powerful constraint on the composition of the accelerating medium. We conclude that LL poses significant challenges to current theories for the formation of nonintervening NAL systems, and speculate that it may be a manifestation of expanding circumstellar shells around asymptotic giant branch stars in the quasar-host bulge. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:17:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a827b1261e047b79be68cb515b8028c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:17:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a827b1261e047b79be68cb515b8028c2023-09-03T14:08:27ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-01945211010.3847/1538-4357/acb541On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active GalaxiesTiffany R. Lewis0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9854-1432Doron Chelouche1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4830-7787Haifa Center for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics (HCTPA), University of Haifa , Haifa 3498838, Israel; Astrophysics Science Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, MD 20771, USAHaifa Center for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics (HCTPA), University of Haifa , Haifa 3498838, Israel; Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa , Haifa 3498838, IsraelLine locking (LL) of absorption-line systems is a clear signature of the dynamical importance of radiation-pressure force in driving astrophysical flows, with recent findings suggesting that it may be common in quasars exhibiting multiple intrinsic narrow absorption-line (NAL) systems. In this work, we probe the phase space conducive to LL and follow the detailed kinematics of those systems that may lock at the velocity separation of the C iv λ λ 1548.19, 1550.77 doublet. We find that a small volume of the phase-phase admits LL, suggesting a high degree of fine-tuning between the physical properties of locked systems. The stability of LL against quasar luminosity variations is quantified with implications for the long-term variability amplitude of quasars and the velocity-separation statistic between multiple NAL systems. The high occurrence of LL by the C iv doublet implies that the hidden extreme-UV emission from quasars is unlikely to be significantly underestimated by current models. Further, the ratio of the LL velocity to the outflow velocity may serve as a powerful constraint on the composition of the accelerating medium. We conclude that LL poses significant challenges to current theories for the formation of nonintervening NAL systems, and speculate that it may be a manifestation of expanding circumstellar shells around asymptotic giant branch stars in the quasar-host bulge.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb541QuasarsActive galactic nucleiGalaxy windsPhotoionizationQuasar absorption line spectroscopy |
| spellingShingle | Tiffany R. Lewis Doron Chelouche On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies The Astrophysical Journal Quasars Active galactic nuclei Galaxy winds Photoionization Quasar absorption line spectroscopy |
| title | On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies |
| title_full | On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies |
| title_fullStr | On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies |
| title_short | On the Fine-tuning and Physical Origin of Line-locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies |
| title_sort | on the fine tuning and physical origin of line locked absorption systems in active galaxies |
| topic | Quasars Active galactic nuclei Galaxy winds Photoionization Quasar absorption line spectroscopy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb541 |
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