Broad emission line variability in 3C 273.

Abstract

We find that the broad Ly α H{BETA} and Fe II emission lines in the luminosity quasar 3C 273 vary by 10-30 per cent on time-scales less than a year. All the line variations occurred during approximately the same period. The line cores vary more than the wings, indicating that the line variability involves only pan of the BLR. The line variability time-scales are shorter than predicted from standard photoionization models by a factor of a few, which may be due to the presence of an anisotropic ionizing continuum in this object.