Can double-peaked lines indicate merging effects in AGNs?

• Main Authors: Popović L.Č., Mediavilla E.G., Pavlović R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Astronomical Observatory, Department of Astronomy, Belgrade 2000-01-01
• Series: Serbian Astronomical Journal
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-698X/2000/1450-698X0062001P.pdf

The influence of merging effects in the central part of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) on the emission spectral line shapes are discussed. We present a model of close binary Broad Line Region. The numerical experiments show that the merging effects can explain double peaked lines. The merging effects may also be present in the center of AGNs, although they emit slightly asymmetric as well as symmetric and relatively stable (in profile shape) spectral lines. Depending on the black hole masses and their orbit elements such model may explain some of the line profile shapes observed in AGNs. This work shows that if one is looking for the merging effects in the central region as well as in the wide field structure of AGNs, he should first pay attention to objects which have double peaked lines.