Constraints for the accretion disk evaporation rate in AGN from the existence of the Broad Line Region

Abstract

We analyze the consequences of the hypothesis that the formation of the Broad Line Region is intrinsically connected with the existence of the cold accretion disk. We assume that the Broad Line Region radius is well estimated by the formula of Kaspi et al. (2000). We consider three models of the disappearance of the inner disk which limit the existence of the Broad Line Region: (i) classical ADAF approach, i.e. the inner hot flow develops whenever it can exist (ii) disk evaporation model of Meyer & Meyer-Hofmeister (2002) (iii) generalized disk evaporation model of Rozanska & Czerny (2000b). For each of the models, we determine the minimum value of the Eddington ratio and the maximum value of the broad line widths as functions of the viscosity parameter alpha and the magnetic field parameter beta. We compare the predicted parameter space with observations of several AGN. Weak dependence of the maximum value of the FWHM and minimum value of the Eddington ratio on the black hole mass in our sample is noticeable. It seems to favor the description of the cold disk/hot inner flow transition as in the classical ADAF approach than with the model of disk evaporation due to conduction between the disk and accreting corona.