C. David Laney

The lick agn monitoring project 2011: Fe II reverberation from the outer broad-line region

The prominent broad Fe II emission blends in the spectra of active galactic nuclei have been shown to vary in response to continuum variations, but past attempts to measure the reverberation lag time of the optical Fe II lines have met with only limited success. Here we report the detection of Fe II reverberation in two Seyfert 1 galaxies, NGC 4593 and Mrk 1511, based on data from a program carried out at Lick Observatory in Spring 2011. Light curves for emission lines including Hβ and Fe II were measured by applying a fitting routine to decompose the spectra into several continuum and emission-line components, and we use cross-correlation techniques to determine the reverberation lags of the emission lines relative to V-band light curves. In both cases, the measured lag (τcen) of Fe II is longer than that of Hβ, although the inferred lags are somewhat sensitive to the choice of Fe II template used in the fit. For spectral decompositions done using the Fe II template of Veron-Cetty et al., we find τcen (Fe II)/τcen (Hβ) = 1.9 ± 0.6 in NGC 4593 and 1.5 ± 0.3 in Mrk 1511. The detection of highly correlated variations between Fe II and continuum emission demonstrates that the Fe II emission in these galaxies originates in photoionized gas, located predominantly in the outer portion of the broad-line region.

The lick AGN monitoring project 2011: Dynamical modeling of the broad-line region in Mrk 50

We present dynamical modeling of the broad-line region (BLR) in the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 50 using reverberation mapping data taken as part of the Lick AGN Monitoring Project (LAMP) 2011. We model the reverberation mapping data directly, constraining the geometry and kinematics of the BLR, as well as deriving a black hole mass estimate that does not depend on a normalizing factor or virial coefficient. We find that the geometry of the BLR in Mrk 50 is a nearly face-on thick disk, with a mean radius of 9.6^(+1.2)_(–0.9) light days, a width of the BLR of 6.9^(+1.2)_(–1.1) light days, and a disk opening angle of 25 ± 10 deg above the plane. We also constrain the inclination angle to be 9^(+7)_(–5) deg, close to face-on. Finally, the black hole mass of Mrk 50 is inferred to be log_(10)(M_(BH)/M_☉) = 7.57^(+0.44)_(–0.27). By comparison to the virial black hole mass estimate from traditional reverberation mapping analysis, we find the normalizing constant (virial coefficient) to be log_(10) f = 0.78^(+0.44)_(–0.27), consistent with the commonly adopted mean value of 0.74 based on aligning the M_(BH)-σ* relation for active galactic nuclei and quiescent galaxies. While our dynamical model includes the possibility of a net inflow or outflow in the BLR, we cannot distinguish between these two scenarios.

BROAD-LINE REVERBERATION IN THE KEPLER-FIELD SEYFERT GALAXY Zw 229-015

The Seyfert 1 galaxy Zw 229-015 is among the brightest active galaxies being monitored by the Kepler mission. In order to determine the black hole mass in Zw 229-015 from Hβ reverberation mapping, we have carried out nightly observations with the Kast Spectrograph at the Lick 3 m telescope during the dark runs from 2010 June through December, obtaining 54 spectroscopic observations in total. We have also obtained nightly V-band imaging with the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope at Lick Observatory and with the 0.9 m telescope at the Brigham Young University West Mountain Observatory over the same period. We detect strong variability in the source, which exhibited more than a factor of two change in broad Hβ flux. From cross-correlation measurements, we find that the Hβ light curve has a rest-frame lag of 3.86+0.69 –0.90 days with respect to the V-band continuum variations. We also measure reverberation lags for Hα and Hγ and find an upper limit to the Hδ lag. Combining the Hβ lag measurement with a broad Hβ width of σline = 1590 ± 47 km s–1 measured from the rms variability spectrum, we obtain a virial estimate of M BH = 1.00+0.19 –0.24 × 107 M ☉ for the black hole in Zw 229-015. As a Kepler target, Zw 229-015 will eventually have one of the highest-quality optical light curves ever measured for any active galaxy, and the black hole mass determined from reverberation mapping will serve as a benchmark for testing relationships between black hole mass and continuum variability characteristics in active galactic nuclei.

The Lick AGN Monitoring Project 2011: Reverberation Mapping of Markarian 50

The Lick AGN Monitoring Project 2011 observing campaign was carried out over the course of 11 weeks in spring 2011. Here we present the first results from this program, a measurement of the broad-line reverberation lag in the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 50. Combining our data with supplemental observations obtained prior to the start of the main observing campaign, our data set covers a total duration of 4.5 months. During this time, Mrk 50 was highly variable, exhibiting a maximum variability amplitude of a factor of ~4 in the U-band continuum and a factor of ~2 in the Hβ line. Using standard cross-correlation techniques, we find that Hβ and Hγ lag the V-band continuum by τ_(cen) = 10.64^(+0.82)_(–0.93) and 8.43^(+1.30)_(–1.28) days, respectively, while the lag of He II λ4686 is unresolved. The Hβ line exhibits a symmetric velocity-resolved reverberation signature with shorter lags in the high-velocity wings than in the line core, consistent with an origin in a broad-line region (BLR) dominated by orbital motion rather than infall or outflow. Assuming a virial normalization factor of f = 5.25, the virial estimate of the black hole mass is (3.2 ± 0.5) × 10^7 M_☉. These observations demonstrate that Mrk 50 is among the most promising nearby active galaxies for detailed investigations of BLR structure and dynamics.

Homogeneous Photometry for the Hyades: Scale-Factor and Zero-Point Tests of Previously Published BV(RI)C Photometry

New BV(RI)C observations of 77 stars in the Hyades are reported and discussed. The new observations are used to test published magnitudes and color indices for that cluster. For values of (V - R)C and (R - I)C published previously by Taylor & Joner, the tests reveal no detectable scale-factor problems. In addition, the tests show that possible zero-point corrections to the published data can be no larger than a few millimagnitudes. These test results indicate that future studies requiring precision photometry for Hyades stars would be well served by selecting data samples from sources as close as possible to the native Cousins system. Tests of B - V photometry published by Johnson & Knuckles reveal a zero-point ambiguity of approximately 8 mmag in the new data that will require further measurements to resolve.

Calibrating the P‐Factor in the IR Baade‐Wesselink Method for Classical and Dwarf Cepheids

The Baade‐Wesselink method using VJK photometry was shown by Laney and Stobie (1995) to yield apparently precise results, free of obvious systematics with phase, surface gravity and microturbulence. Here we extend the empirical calibration of the p‐factor [1] to a maximal sample of galactic classical Cepheids. HADS or ‘dwarf Cepheids’ have been shown to follow the same PL relation (at least for high‐metallicity objects), and a HADS sample is therefore added in order to extend the period range and examine the variation of the p‐factor with period. The derived pulsation parallaxes give a slope of 0.07±0.02, in good agreement with the calculations of Nardetto et al. [2]. Applying this period vs. p‐factor relation to 68 galactic pulsation parallaxes gives a slope for the galactic PL relation in good agreement with the LMC PL relation.

Tests of Broadband Photometric Consistency for Standard Stars, the Hyades, and M67

New South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) BV(RI)C measurements of 19 Hyades stars and 11 M67 stars are reported. The zero points of the new color indices conform closely to those of SAAO data reported in a previous paper. In addition, the new M67 measurements of (V − R)C and (R − I )C are compared to data published previously by Taylor, Joner, and Jeffery. The results support conclusions drawn by those authors that the scale factors of their data are correct and that a scale factor problem exists in measurements published by Montgomery, Marshall, and Janes. The new values of B − V are used withTycho data in tests of extant Hyades and M67 measurements and of the accuracy of the SAAO B − V system. A problem encountered previously with the Hyades B − V zero point is resolved, and an extant Hyades relation between B − V and (R − I )C is re-zeroed. A satisfactory zero point is also obtained for M67, and published photomultiplier values of B − V are reduced to that zero point, averaged, and tabulated. It is found that the zero point of B − V data published by Sandquist is satisfactory. However, tests of B − V measurements made by Montgomery et al. suggest that those data are not on a single zero point. Finally, the scale factor of the E region B − V system is found to be satisfactory, but a well-supported interim conclusion is drawn that E region values of B − V should be corrected by about −9 mmag. It is suggested that this conclusion be tested by using instrumental systems that have not yet contributed to the testing process.