THE LICK AGN MONITORING PROJECT: VELOCITY-DELAY MAPS FROM T

2010 
We present velocity-delay maps for optical H I, He I, and He II recombination lines in Arp 151, recovered by fitting a reverberation model to spectrophotometric moni toring data using the maximum-entropy method. H I response is detected over the range 0-15 days, with the response confined within the virial envelope. The Balmer-line maps have similar morphologies but exhibit radial stratification, with progressively longer delays for H to Hto H� . The He I and He II response is confined within 1-2 days. There is a deficit of prom pt response in the Balmer-line cores but strong prompt response in the red wings. Comparison with simple models identifies two classes that reproduce these features: freef alling gas, and a half-illuminated disk with a hotspot at small radius on the receding lune. Symmetrically illuminated models with gas orbiting in an inclined disk or an isotropic distribution of randomly inclined circular orbits can reproduce the virial structure but not the observed asymmetry. Radial outflows are also largely ruled o ut by the observed asymmetry. A warped-disk geometry provides a physically plausible mechanism for the asymmetric illumination and hotspot features. Simple estimates show that a disk in the broad-line region of Arp 151 could be unstable to warping induced by radiation pressure. Our results demonstrate the potential power of detailed modeling combined with monitoring campaigns at higher cadence to characterize the gas kinematics and physical processes that give rise to the broad emission lines in active galactic nuclei. Subject headings:galaxies: active - galaxies: nuclei - galaxies: Seyfert - ga laxies: individual (Arp 151)
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