A catalog of broad absorption line quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Third Data Release

Jonathan R. Trump, Patrick B. Hall, Timothy A. Reichard, Gordon T. Richards, Donald P. Schneider, Daniel E. Vanden Berk, Gillian R. Knapp, Scott F. Anderson, Xiaohui Fan, J. Brinkman, S. J. Kleinman, Atsuko Nitta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

340 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a total of 4784 unique broad absorption line quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Third Data Release. An automated algorithm was used to match a continuum to each quasar and to identify regions of flux at least 10% below the continuum over a velocity range of at least 1000 km s -1 in the C IV and Mg n absorption regions. The model continuum was selected as the best-fit match from a set of template quasar spectra binned in luminosity, emission line width, and redshift, with the power-law spectral index and amount of dust reddening as additional free parameters. We characterize our sample through the traditional "balnicity" index and a revised absorption index, as well as through parameters such as the width, outflow velocity, fractional depth, and number of troughs. From a sample of 16,883 quasars at 1.7 ≤ z ≤ 4.38, we identify 4386 (26.0%) quasars with broad C IV absorption, of which 1756 (10.4%) satisfy traditional selection criteria. From a sample of 34,973 quasars at 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 2.15, we identify 457 (1.31%) quasars with broad Mg n absorption, 191 (0.55%) of which satisfy traditional selection criteria. We also provide a supplementary list of 39 visually identified z > 4.38 quasars with broad C IV absorption. We find that broad absorption line quasars may have broader emission lines on average than other quasars.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-18
Number of pages18
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume165
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

Keywords

  • Catalogs
  • Galaxies: active
  • Quasars: absorption lines
  • Quasars: emission lines
  • Quasars: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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