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arXiv · 1711.03919

EW[OIII] as an orientation indicator for quasars: implications for the torus

Susanna Bisogni·Alessandro Marconi·Guido Risaliti·Elisabeta Lusso
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Abstract

We present an analysis of the average spectral properties of 12,000 SDSS quasars as a function of accretion disc inclination, as measured from the equivalent width of the [O III] 5007Å line. The use of this indicator on a large sample of quasars from the SDSS DR7 has proven the presence of orientation effects on the features of UV/optical spectra, confirming the presence of outflows in the NLR gas and that the geometry of the BLR is disc-like. Relying on the goodness of this indicator, we are now using it to investigate other bands/components of AGN. Specifically, the study of the UV/optical/IR SED of the same sample provides information on the obscuring "torus". The SED shows a decrease of the IR fraction moving from face-on to edge-on sources, in agreement with models where the torus is co-axial with the accretion disc. Moreover, the fact we are able to observe the broad emission lines also in sources in an edge-on position, suggests that the torus is rather clumpy than smooth as in the Unified Model. The behaviour of the SED as a function of EW[OIII] is in agreement with the predictions of the clumpy torus models as well.

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Susanna Bisogni, Alessandro Marconi, Guido Risaliti, Elisabeta Lusso. 2017-11-15. EW[OIII] as an orientation indicator for quasars: implications for the torus. https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.03919

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