The Quasar SDSS J105041.35+345631.3: Black Hole Recoil or Extreme Double-Peaked Emitter?

The quasar SDSS J105041.35+345631.3 (z = 0.272) has broad emission lines blueshifted by 3500 km s-1 relative to the narrow lines and the host galaxy. Such an object may be a candidate for a recoiling supermassive black hole, a binary black hole, a superposition of two objects, or an unusual geometry...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2009-12, Vol.707 (2), p.936-941
Main Authors: Shields, G. A, Rosario, D. J, Smith, K. L, Bonning, E. W, Salviander, S, Kalirai, J. S, Strickler, R, Ramirez-Ruiz, E, Dutton, A. A, Treu, T, Marshall, P. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
EMISSION
GALAXIES
QUASARS
RED SHIFT
SPECTRA
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Summary:The quasar SDSS J105041.35+345631.3 (z = 0.272) has broad emission lines blueshifted by 3500 km s-1 relative to the narrow lines and the host galaxy. Such an object may be a candidate for a recoiling supermassive black hole, a binary black hole, a superposition of two objects, or an unusual geometry for the broad emission-line region. The absence of narrow lines at the broad line redshift argues against superposition. New Keck spectra of J1050+3456 place tight constraints on the binary model. The combination of large velocity shift and symmetrical H Delta *b profile, as well as aspects of the narrow line spectrum, make J1050+3456 an interesting candidate for black hole recoil. Other aspects of the spectrum, however, suggest that the object is most likely an extreme case of a 'double-peaked emitter.' We discuss possible observational tests to determine the true nature of this exceptional object.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/707/2/936