Multiphase gas nature in the sub-pc region of the active galactic nuclei – II. Possible origins of the changing-state AGNs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Multiwavelength observations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) often reveal various time-scales of variability. Among these phenomena, ‘changing-look AGNs’ are extreme cases where broad emission lines become faint/bright or even disappear/emerge between multi-epoch observations, providing crucial information about AGN internal structures. We here focus on ‘changing-state’ AGNs, specifically investigating the transition of optical spectra over years to tens of years. Based on the axisymmetric radiation-hydrodynamic simulations (Paper I) for the gas dynamics within the dust sublimation radius, we investigate the spectral properties of ionized gas exposed to the radiation from an AGN with a 107 M⊙ supermassive black hole. We find significant time-dependent variations in the Balmer emission lines by utilizing post-process pseudo-three-dimensional calculations and the spectral synthesis code cloudy. The equivalent width of H α and H β changes by a factor of 3, or the emission lines even disappear during 30 yr for the same viewing angle. The time-dependent behaviour arises primarily from gas dynamics, particularly the formation of non-steady, radiation-driven outflows within the innermost region of the disc (r ≲ 10−3 pc). The intricate interplay between non-spherical radiation sources at the core of AGNs and the dynamic behaviour of gas within the dust sublimation radius gives rise to radiation-driven outflows. This non-steady outflow potentially contributes to the observed variability in Balmer line emissions over multiyear time-scales in certain AGNs.