Abstract
A method is proposed for measuring the size of the broad emission line region (BLR) in quasars using broadband photometric data. A feasibility study, based on numerical simulations, points to the advantages and pitfalls associated with this approach. The method is applied to a subset of the Palomar-Green quasar sample for which independent BLR size measurements are available. An agreement is found between the results of the photometric method and the spectroscopic reverberation mapping technique. Implications for the measurement of BLR sizes and black hole masses for numerous quasars in the era of large surveys are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 62 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 747 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- galaxies: active
- methods: data analysis
- quasars: emission lines
- surveys
- techniques: photometric
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science