  We present self-consistent models of the vertical structure and emergent
spectrum of AGN accretion disks. The central object is assumed to be a
supermassive Kerr black hole. We demonstrate that NLTE effects and the effects
of a self-consistent vertical structure of a disk play a very important role in
determining the emergent radiation, and therefore should be taken into account.
In particular, NLTE models exhibit a largely diminished H I Lyman discontinuity
when compared to LTE models, and the He II discontinuity appears strongly in
emission for NLTE models. Consequently, the number of ionizing photons in the
He II Lyman continuum predicted by NLTE disk models is by 1 - 2 orders of
magnitude higher than that following from the black-body approximation. This
prediction has important implications for ionization models of AGN broad line
regions, and for models of the intergalactic radiation field and the ionization
of helium in the intergalactic medium.
