American Astronomical Society, Astrophysical Journal, 1(536), p. L5-L9, 2000
DOI: 10.1086/312717
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We identify a correlation space involving optical and UV emission line parameters as well as the soft X-ray spectral index that provides optimal discrimination between all principal classes of active galactic nuclei. Most of the sources in our three high quality data samples show a strong intercorrelation with narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies and steep spectrum radio galaxies occupying opposite extrema in the space. NLSy1 sources show a clear continuity with broader line sources indicating that they are not a disjoint class of AGN as is sometimes suggested. We interpret the principal intercorrelation in the parameter space as being driven by AGN luminosity to black hole mass ratio (L/M prop. to the Eddington ratio). Source orientation no doubt also plays an important role but it is not yet clear whether FWHM H beta or CIV 1549 line shift is the better indicator. We tentatively identify two RQ populations: an almost pure RQ population A with FWHM