1.3 Low Ionization Nuclear Emission Line Regions (LINERs)

These are the least luminous AGNs. The nonstellar continuum luminosity of most LINERs is so small, compared with the stellar continuum, that there are not yet good observations of its shape. The strongest emission lines are of low ionization species and are somewhat narrower (200-400 km s^-1) than the narrow lines of Seyfert galaxies. LINERs are recognized by their low excitation narrow lines but some of them show weak, broad emission lines. This links them to the more luminous members of the AGN family and is discussed, along with their other properties, in chapter 11.