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2011A&A...528A.100S - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 528A, 100-100 (2011/4-1)

Zooming into the broad line region of the gravitationally lensed quasar QSO 2237+0305 = the EINSTEIN cross. III. Determination of the size and structure of the CIV and CIII] emitting regions using microlensing.

SLUSE D., SCHMIDT R., COURBIN F., HUTSEMEKERS D., MEYLAN G., EIGENBROD A., ANGUITA T., AGOL E. and WAMBSGANSS J.

Abstract (from CDS):

We aim to use microlensing taking place in the lensed quasar QSO 2237+0305 to study the structure of the broad line region (BLR) and measure the size of the region emitting the CIV and CIII] lines. Based on 39 spectrophotometric monitoring data points obtained between Oct. 2004 and Dec. 2007, we derived lightcurves for the CIV and CIII] emission lines. We used three different techniques to analyse the microlensing signal. Different components of the lines (narrow, broad, and very broad) were identified and studied. We built a library of the simulated microlensing lightcurves that reproduce the signal observed in the continuum and in the lines provided only the source size is changed. A Bayesian analysis scheme is then developed to derive the size of the various components of the BLR. 1. The half-light radius of the region emitting the CIV line is found to be RCIV∼66+110–46light-days = 0.06+0.09–0.04pc = 1.7+2.8–1.1x1017cm (at 68.3% CI). Similar values are obtained for CIII]. Relative sizes of the carbon-line and V-band continuum emitting-regions are also derived with median values of Rline/Rcont in the range 4 to 29, depending on the FWHM of the line component. 2. The size of the CIV emitting region agrees with the radius-luminosity relationship derived from reverberation mapping. Using the virial theorem, we derive the mass of the black hole in QSO 2237+0305 to be MBH∼10^8.3 ±0.3^M. 3. We find that the CIV and CIII] lines are produced in at least 2 spatially distinct regions, the most compact one giving rise to the broadest component of the line. The broad and narrow line profiles are slightly different for CIV and CIII]. 4. Our analysis suggests a different structure for the CIV and FeII+III emitting regions, with the latter produced in the inner part of the BLR or in a less extended emitting region than CIV.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): gravitational lensing: micro - gravitational lensing: strong - quasars: general - quasars: emission lines - quasars: individual: QSO 2237+0305 - line: formation

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