Variable C IV absorption in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548 : a connection to broad absorption line quasi-stellar objects ?

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 416; no. 2; pp. 536 - 545
• Main Authors: SHULL, J. M, SACHS, E. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 20.10.1993
• Subjects: Active and peculiar galaxies (including bl lacertae objects, blazars, seyfert galaxies, markarian galaxies, active galactic nuclei); Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Quasars. Active or peculiar galaxies, objects, and systems; Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe; Active galaxies; Quasars; IUE satellites; Seyfert galaxies; Line intensity; Broad line regions; Absorption spectra; Carbon
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/173255

Variable absorption components in the broad emission lines of Seyfert 1 galaxies is examined. In an IUE the broad-line region must be at least partially covered by the absorbing region and the central wavelength of the broad-line region corresponds to that of the maximum absorption. Standard broad-line clouds cannot account for the absorption feature and the absorbing material must be optically thin and dispersed in velocity space. We propose a relationship between broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs and Seyfert 1 galaxies with absorption, and we suggest that the latter may be a low-luminosity 1ow-redshift manifestation of the BAL phenomenon in quasars. The high frequency of occurrence may represent a statistical effect of outflow viewing angle on the sky.