The kinematics of the narrow-line region in active galaxies and quasars. III - Correlations with the broad-line region and radio emission

Abstract

The authors present a large body of new data relevant to the kinematics of the optical emission-line gas in the narrow-line region (NLR). These data consist of 34 moderate resolution spectra of the prominent [O III] λ5007 emission line. The new results are combined with previously published data, yielding [O III] profile information for 75 active galaxies and quasars. The profile widths, asymmetries, and kurtoses are tabulated and used to investigate the global kinematics of the NLR and its relationship to the broad-line region (BLR) and to the nonthermal radio emission. There is no evidence for systematic differences between the kinematics of the NLR in galaxies compared to quasars. This strengthens the hypothesis that quasars are simply high-luminosity nuclei of Seyfert I or broad-line radio galaxies.