Bibcode
DOI
Abajas, C.; Mediavilla, E.; Muñoz, J. A.; Popović, L. Č.; Oscoz, A.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 576, Issue 2, pp. 640-652.
Advertised on:
9
2002
Journal
Citations
88
Refereed citations
76
Description
We discuss the effects of microlensing on the broad emission lines
(BELs) of QSOs in the light of recent determinations of the size of the
broad-line region (BLR) and its scaling with QSO luminosity.
Microlensing by star-sized objects can produce significant
amplifications in the BEL of some multiple-imaged QSOs, and could be
very relevant for high-ionization lines. We have identified a group of
10 gravitational lens systems (~30% of the selected sample) in which
microlensing could be observed. Using standard kinematic models for
active galactic nuclei, we have studied the changes induced in the line
profile by a microlens located at different positions with respect to
the center of the BLR. We found that microlensing could produce
important effects such as the relative enhancement of different parts of
the line profile or the displacement of the peak of the line. The study
of BEL profiles of different ionization in a microlensed QSO image could
be an alternative method for probing the BLR structure and size.