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X-ray binary accretion states in Active Galactic Nuclei? Sensing the accretion disc of supermassive black holes with mid-infrared nebular lines
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Submitted 19 Apr 2021
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim When applied to a sample of 167 nearby AGN, the LED recovers the characteristic q-shaped morphology outlined by individual X-ray binaries during a typical accretion episode, allowing us to tentatively identify the main accretion states.
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Accretion states, which are universally observed in stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries, are also anticipated in active galactic nuclei (AGN). This is the case at low luminosities, when the jet-corona coupling dominates the energy output in both populations. Previous attempts to extend this framework to a wider AGN population have been extremely challenging due to heavy hydrogen absorption of the accretion disc continuum and starlight contamination from the host galaxies. We present the luminosity-excitation diagram (LED), based on the [OIV]$_{25.9\mu m}$ and [NeII]$_{12.8\mu m}$ mid-infrared nebular line fluxes. This tool enables to probe the accretion disc contribution to the ionising continuum. When applied to a sample of 167 nearby AGN, the LED recovers the characteristic q-shaped morphology outlined by individual X-ray binaries during a typical accretion episode, allowing us to tentatively identify the main accretion states. The soft state would include broad-line Seyferts and about half of the Seyfert 2 population, showing highly excited gas and radio-quiet cores consistent with disc-dominated nuclei. The hard state mostly includes low-luminosity AGN ($\leq 10^{-3}\, \rm{L_{Edd}}$) characterised by low-excitation radio-loud nuclei and a negligible disc contribution. The remaining half of Seyfert 2 nuclei and the bright LINERs show low excitation at high accretion luminosities, and could be identified with the bright-hard and intermediate states. Their hosts show ongoing star formation in the central kiloparsecs. We discuss the above scenario, its potential links with the galaxy evolution picture and the possible presence of accretion state transitions in AGN, as suggested by the growing population of changing-look quasars.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | Accretion states, which are universally observed in stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries, are also anticipated in active galactic nuclei (AGN). | background 1.00 | 0.05 | 0.05 | hedged possibility 0.76 |
| s1 | This is the case at low luminosities, when the jet-corona coupling dominates the energy output in both populations. | background 1.00 | 0.07 | 0.03 | asserted 0.99 |
| s2 | Previous attempts to extend this framework to a wider AGN population have been extremely challenging due to heavy hydrogen absorption of the accretion disc continuum and starlight contamination from the host galaxies. | gap 0.71 | 0.04 | 0.02 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | We present the luminosity-excitation diagram (LED), based on the [OIV]$_{25.9\mu m}$ and [NeII]$_{12.8\mu m}$ mid-infrared nebular line fluxes. | method 0.58 | 0.96 | 0.05 | asserted 0.99 |
| s4 | This tool enables to probe the accretion disc contribution to the ionising continuum. | method 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.06 | asserted 0.99 |
| s5 | When applied to a sample of 167 nearby AGN, the LED recovers the characteristic q-shaped morphology outlined by individual X-ray binaries during a typical accretion episode, allowing us to tentatively identify the main accretion states. | result 0.98 | 0.95 | 0.68 | asserted 0.55 |
| s6 | The soft state would include broad-line Seyferts and about half of the Seyfert 2 population, showing highly excited gas and radio-quiet cores consistent with disc-dominated nuclei. | interpretation 0.81 | 0.78 | 0.13 | asserted 0.77 |
| s7 | The hard state mostly includes low-luminosity AGN ($\leq 10^{-3}\, \rm{L_{Edd}}$) characterised by low-excitation radio-loud nuclei and a negligible disc contribution. | interpretation 0.71 | 0.77 | 0.10 | asserted 0.98 |
| s8 | The remaining half of Seyfert 2 nuclei and the bright LINERs show low excitation at high accretion luminosities, and could be identified with the bright-hard and intermediate states. | interpretation 0.84 | 0.81 | 0.10 | hedged possibility 0.99 |
| s9 | Their hosts show ongoing star formation in the central kiloparsecs. | result 0.81 | 0.70 | 0.02 | asserted 1.00 |
| s10 | We discuss the above scenario, its potential links with the galaxy evolution picture and the possible presence of accretion state transitions in AGN, as suggested by the growing population of changing-look quasars. | interpretation 0.80 | 0.37 | 0.06 | hedged possibility 0.88 |
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Original abstract
Accretion states, which are universally observed in stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries, are also anticipated in active galactic nuclei (AGN). This is the case at low luminosities, when the jet-corona coupling dominates the energy output in both populations. Previous attempts to extend this framework to a wider AGN population have been extremely challenging due to heavy hydrogen absorption of the accretion disc continuum and starlight contamination from the host galaxies. We present the luminosity-excitation diagram (LED), based on the [OIV]$_{25.9\mu m}$ and [NeII]$_{12.8\mu m}$ mid-infrared nebular line fluxes. This tool enables to probe the accretion disc contribution to the ionising continuum. When applied to a sample of 167 nearby AGN, the LED recovers the characteristic q-shaped morphology outlined by individual X-ray binaries during a typical accretion episode, allowing us to tentatively identify the main accretion states. The soft state would include broad-line Seyferts and about half of the Seyfert 2 population, showing highly excited gas and radio-quiet cores consistent with disc-dominated nuclei. The hard state mostly includes low-luminosity AGN ($\leq 10^{-3}\, \rm{L_{Edd}}$) characterised by low-excitation radio-loud nuclei and a negligible disc contribution. The remaining half of Seyfert 2 nuclei and the bright LINERs show low excitation at high accretion luminosities, and could be identified with the bright-hard and intermediate states. Their hosts show ongoing star formation in the central kiloparsecs. We discuss the above scenario, its potential links with the galaxy evolution picture and the possible presence of accretion state transitions in AGN, as suggested by the growing population of changing-look quasars.
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Further evidences supporting the existence of accretion state transitions in supermassive BHs have been recently found in tidal disruption events [ref] .
Rapid accretion state transitions following the tidal disruption event AT2018fyk · Are state transitions expected in AGN? · 0.99
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