Fantastic Fits with fantasy of Active Galactic Nuclei Spectra: Exploring the Fe ii Emission near the Hα Line

Abstract

Abstract In this study, a refined approach for multicomponent fitting of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) spectra is presented utilizing the newly developed Python code Fully Automated pythoN Tool for AGN Spectra analYsis (fantasy). AGN spectra are modeled by simultaneously considering the underlying broken power-law continuum, predefined emission line lists, and an Fe ii model, which is here extended to cover the wavelength range 3700–11000 Å. The Fe ii model, founded solely on atomic data, effectively describes the extensive emission of the complex iron ion in the vicinity of the Hγ and Hβ lines, as well as near the Hα line, which was previously rarely studied. The proposed spectral fitting approach is tested on a sample of high-quality AGN spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 17. The results indicate that when Fe ii emission is present near Hβ, it is also detected redward from Hα, potentially contaminating the broad Hα line wings and thus affecting the measurements of its flux and width. The production of Fe ii emission is found to be strongly correlated with Eddington luminosity and appears to be controlled by a similar mechanism as the hydrogen Balmer lines. The study highlights the benefits of fitting type 1 AGN spectra with the fantasy code, pointing that it may be used as a robust tool for analyzing a large number of AGN spectra in the coming spectral surveys.