8748(  1) - 12/30/99 13:02  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      8748
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 30-Dec-1999
                                                                      12:31:40

1.Proposal Title:
Testing The AGN/QSO Accretion Disk Paradigm Using New Non-LTE Models
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               9
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4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Matthew Malkan                    University of California Los Angeles
   CoI: Dr. Ivan Hubeny                   Goddard Space Flight Center                   N
   CoI: Dr. Eric Agol                     The Johns Hopkins University                  N
   CoI: Prof. Omer Blaes                  University of California Santa Barbara        N

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5. Abstract

We propose to compare a large FOS database of observed quasar spectral energy
distributions to new accretion disk models. We have constructed a large grid of non-
LTE disk models for a wide range of black hole mass and mass accretion rate,
viscosity parameter Alpha, and black hole spins. Our procedure calculates self-
consistently the vertical structure of all disk annuli together with the radiation
field, without any approximations imposed on the optical thickness of the disk, and
without any ad hoc approximations of the radiation intensity. The total spectrum of
a disk is computed by summing the spectra of the individual annuli, taking into
account the general relativistic transfer function. The results, which include
predictions of the polarization spectrum, differ substantially from previous less
reliable models. The FOS database has sufficient size, spectral resolution, and S/N
to allow us to account statistically for the important effects of intergalactic and
interstellar absorption, as well as the range of expected accretion disk viewing
angles in various AGN subtypes. Our aim is to make a definitive comparison between
observations and accretion disk models.
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                                                8748(  1) - 12/30/99 13:02  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  8748

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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