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Main Authors: Leighly, Karen M., Choi, Hyunseop, Eracleous, Michael, Terndrup, Donald M., Gallagher, Sarah C., Richards, Gordon T.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.07855
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author Leighly, Karen M.
Choi, Hyunseop
Eracleous, Michael
Terndrup, Donald M.
Gallagher, Sarah C.
Richards, Gordon T.
author_facet Leighly, Karen M.
Choi, Hyunseop
Eracleous, Michael
Terndrup, Donald M.
Gallagher, Sarah C.
Richards, Gordon T.
contents We present the optical-near infrared spectral energy distributions (SED) and near infrared variability properties of 30 low-redshift iron low-ionization Broad Absorption Line quasars (FeLoBALQs) and matched samples of LoBALQs and unabsorbed quasars. Significant correlations between the SED properties and accretion rate indicators found among the unabsorbed comparison sample objects suggest an intrinsic origin for SED differences. A range of reddening likely mutes these correlations among the FeLoBAL quasars. The restframe optical-band reddening is correlated with the location of the outflow, suggesting a link between the outflows and the presence of dust. We analyzed WISE variability and provide a correction for photometry uncertainties in an appendix. We found an anticorrelation between the variability amplitude and inferred continuum emission region size, and suggest that as the origin of the anticorrelation between variability amplitude and luminosity typically observed in quasars. We found that the LoBALQ optical emission line and other parameters are more similar to those of the unabsorbed continuum sample objects than the FeLoBALQs. Thus, FeLoBAL quasars are a special population of objects. We interpret the results using an accretion-rate scenario for FeLoBAL quasars. The high accretion rate FeLoBAL quasars are radiating powerfully enough to drive a thick, high-velocity outflow. Quasars with intermediate accretion rates may have an outflow, but it is not sufficiently thick to include FeII absorption. Low accretion rate FeLoBAL outflows originate in absorption in a failing torus, no longer optically thick enough to reprocess radiation into the near-IR.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_07855
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Physical Properties of Low Redshift FeLoBAL Quasars. IV. Optical-Near IR Spectral Energy Distributions and Near-IR Variability Properties
Leighly, Karen M.
Choi, Hyunseop
Eracleous, Michael
Terndrup, Donald M.
Gallagher, Sarah C.
Richards, Gordon T.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
We present the optical-near infrared spectral energy distributions (SED) and near infrared variability properties of 30 low-redshift iron low-ionization Broad Absorption Line quasars (FeLoBALQs) and matched samples of LoBALQs and unabsorbed quasars. Significant correlations between the SED properties and accretion rate indicators found among the unabsorbed comparison sample objects suggest an intrinsic origin for SED differences. A range of reddening likely mutes these correlations among the FeLoBAL quasars. The restframe optical-band reddening is correlated with the location of the outflow, suggesting a link between the outflows and the presence of dust. We analyzed WISE variability and provide a correction for photometry uncertainties in an appendix. We found an anticorrelation between the variability amplitude and inferred continuum emission region size, and suggest that as the origin of the anticorrelation between variability amplitude and luminosity typically observed in quasars. We found that the LoBALQ optical emission line and other parameters are more similar to those of the unabsorbed continuum sample objects than the FeLoBALQs. Thus, FeLoBAL quasars are a special population of objects. We interpret the results using an accretion-rate scenario for FeLoBAL quasars. The high accretion rate FeLoBAL quasars are radiating powerfully enough to drive a thick, high-velocity outflow. Quasars with intermediate accretion rates may have an outflow, but it is not sufficiently thick to include FeII absorption. Low accretion rate FeLoBAL outflows originate in absorption in a failing torus, no longer optically thick enough to reprocess radiation into the near-IR.
title The Physical Properties of Low Redshift FeLoBAL Quasars. IV. Optical-Near IR Spectral Energy Distributions and Near-IR Variability Properties
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.07855