On the origins of CIV absorption profile diversity in broad absorption line quasars

Alexei Baskin, Ari Laor, Fred Hamann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

There is a large diversity in the C IV broad absorption line (BAL) profile among BAL quasars (BALQs). We quantify this diversity by exploring the distribution of the CIV BAL properties, full width at half-maximum (FWHM), maximum depth of absorption and its velocity shift (νmd), using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7 quasar catalogue. We find the following: (i) Although the median C IV BAL profile in the quasar rest-frame becomes broader and shallower as the UV continuum slope (aUV at 1700-3000 Å) gets bluer, the median individual profile in the absorber rest-frame remains identical, and is narrow (FWHM = 3500 km s-1) and deep. Only 4 per cent of BALs have FWHM > 10 000 km s-1. (ii) As the He II emission equivalent width (EW) decreases, the distributions of FWHM and νmd extend to larger values, and the median maximum depth increases. These trends are consistent with theoretical models in which softer ionizing continua reduce overionization, and allow radiative acceleration of faster BAL outflows. (iii) As αUV becomes bluer, the distribution of νmd extends to larger values. This trend may imply faster outflows at higher latitudes above the accretion disc plane. (iv) For non-BALQs, the CIV emission line decreases with decreasing He II EW, and becomes more asymmetric and blueshifted. This suggests an increasing relative contribution of emission from the BAL outflow to the C IV emission line as the ionizing spectral energy distribution (SED) gets softer, which is consistent with the increasing fraction of BALQs as the ionizing SED gets softer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1593-1604
Number of pages12
JournalMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Volume449
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 May 2015

Keywords

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

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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