We present a compilation of properties of the 105,783 quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (DR7) quasar catalog. In this product, we compile continuum and emission line measurements around the Hα, Hβ, Mg II, and C IV regions, as well as other quantities such as radio properties, and flags indicating broad absorption line quasars, disk emitters, etc. We also compile virial black hole mass estimates based on various calibrations. For the fiducial virial mass estimates we use the Vestergaard & Peterson (VP06) calibrations for Hβ and C IV, and our own calibration for Mg II which matches the VP06 Hβ masses on average. We describe the construction of this catalog and discuss its limitations. The catalog and its future updates will be made publicly available online.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0067-0049/194/2/45/pdf

A catalog of quasar properties from sloan digital sky survey data release 7

We compile black hole (BH) masses for ~60,000 quasars in the redshift range 0.1 z 4.5 included in the Fifth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, using virial BH mass estimators based on the Hβ, Mg II, and C IV emission lines. Within our sample, the widths of the three lines follow lognormal distributions, with means and dispersions that do not depend strongly on luminosity or redshift. The Mg II- and Hβ-estimated BH masses are consistent with one another, but there is a positive bias between the C IV- and Mg II-estimated BH masses correlated with the C IV-Mg II blueshift, suggesting that the C IV estimator is more severely affected by a disk wind. If the underlying BH mass distribution decreases with mass and the Eddington ratio distribution at fixed true BH mass has nonzero width, we show that the measured virial BH mass and Eddington ratio distributions within finite luminosity bins are subject to Malmquist bias. We present a model that reproduces the observed virial mass distribution, quasar luminosity function, and line width distribution of our sample; it has an underlying BH mass distribution dN/dlog M ∝ M−2.6 and a lognormal true Eddington ratio distribution at fixed true mass with dispersion 0.4 dex and mean dependent on BH mass. In this model, the observed virial mass (Eddington ratio) distribution for the SDSS sample is biased high (low) by ~0.6 dex within finite luminosity bins. Finally, we compare virial BH masses of radio and broad absorption line quasars with ordinary quasars matched in redshift and luminosity.

Biases in Virial Black Hole Masses: An SDSS Perspective

Using a sample of ~30,000 quasars from the 7th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we explore the range of properties exhibited by high-ionization, broad emission lines, such as C IV λ1549. Specifically, we investigate the anti-correlation between continuum luminosity and emission-line equivalent width (the Baldwin Effect (BEff)) and the blueshifting of the high-ionization emission lines with respect to low-ionization emission lines. Employing improved redshift determinations from Hewett & Wild, the blueshift of the C IV emission line is found to be nearly ubiquitous, with a mean shift of ~810 km s–1 for radio-quiet (RQ) quasars and ~360 km s–1 for radio-loud (RL) quasars. The BEff is present in both RQ and RL samples. We consider these phenomena within the context of an accretion disk-wind model that is modulated by the nonlinear correlation between ultraviolet and X-ray continuum luminosity. Composite spectra are constructed as a function of C IV emission-line properties in an attempt to reveal empirical relationships between different line species and the continuum. Within a two-component disk+wind model of the broad emission-line region (BELR), where the wind filters the continuum seen by the disk component, we find that RL quasars are consistent with being dominated by the disk component, while broad absorption line quasars are consistent with being dominated by the wind component. Some RQ objects have emission-line features similar to RL quasars; they may simply have insufficient black hole (BH) spin to form radio jets. Our results suggest that there could be significant systematic errors in the determination of L bol and BH mass that make it difficult to place these findings in a more physical context. However, it is possible to classify quasars in a paradigm where the diversity of BELR parameters is due to differences in an accretion disk wind between quasars (and over time); these differences are underlain primarily by the spectral energy distribution, which ultimately must be tied to BH mass and accretion rate.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-6256/141/5/167/pdf

Unification of luminous type 1 quasars through c iv emission

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are energetic astrophysical sources powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes in galaxies, and present unique observational signatures that cover the full electromagnetic spectrum over more than twenty orders of magnitude in frequency. The rich phenomenology of AGN has resulted in a large number of different “flavours” in the literature that now comprise a complex and confusing AGN “zoo”. It is increasingly clear that these classifications are only partially related to intrinsic differences between AGN and primarily reflect variations in a relatively small number of astrophysical parameters as well the method by which each class of AGN is selected. Taken together, observations in different electromagnetic bands as well as variations over time provide complementary windows on the physics of different sub-structures in the AGN. In this review, we present an overview of AGN multi-wavelength properties with the aim of painting their “big picture” through observations in each electromagnetic band from radio to $$\gamma $$
 -rays as well as AGN variability. We address what we can learn from each observational method, the impact of selection effects, the physics behind the emission at each wavelength, and the potential for future studies. To conclude, we use these observations to piece together the basic architecture of AGN, discuss our current understanding of unification models, and highlight some open questions that present opportunities for future observational and theoretical progress.

Active galactic nuclei: what’s in a name?

We analyze several large samples of AGN in order to establish the best tools required to study the evolution of black hole mass (M_BH) and normalized accretion rate (L/L_Edd). The data include spectra from the SDSS, 2QZ and 2SLAQ surveys at z<2, and a compilation of smaller samples with 0<z<5. We critically evaluate the usage of the MgII(2798A) and CIV(1549A) lines, and adjacent continuum bands, as estimators of M_BH and L/L_Edd, by focusing on sources where one of these lines is observed together with Hbeta. We present a new, luminosity-dependent bolometric correction for the monochromatic luminosity at 3000A, L_3000, which is lower by a factor of 1.75 than those used in previous studies. We also re-calibrate the use of L_3000 as an indicator for the size of the broad emission line region (R_BLR) and find that R_BLR is proportional to L_3000^0.62. We find that FWHM(MgII)\simeqFWHM(Hb) for all sources with FWHM(MgII)<6000 km/s. Beyond this FWHM, the MgII line width seems to saturate. The spectral region of the MgII line can thus be used to reproduce Hb-based estimates of M_BH and L/L_Edd, with negligible systematic differences and a scatter of 0.3 dex. The width of the CIV line, on the other hand, shows no correlation with either that of the Hb or the MgII lines and we could not identify the reason for this discrepancy. The scatter of M_BH(CIV), relative to M_BH(Hb) is of almost 0.5 dex. Moreover, 46% of the sources have FWHM(CIV)<FWHM(Hb), in contrast with the basic premise of the virial method, which predicts FWHM(CIV)/FWHM(Hbeta)~1.9. Thus, the CIV line cannot be used to obtain precise estimates of M_BH. We conclude by presenting the observed evolution of M_BH and L/L_Edd with cosmic epoch. The steep rise of L/L_Edd with redshift up to z~1 flattens towards the expected maximal value of L/L_Edd~1, with lower-M_BH sources showing higher values of L/L_Edd at all redshifts. [Abridged]

Black Hole Growth to z = 2 - I: Improved Virial Methods for Measuring M_BH and L/L_Edd

We are exploring a spectroscopic unification for all types of broad-line emitting AGNs. The four-dimensional Eigenvector 1 (4DE1) parameter space organizes quasar diversity in a sequence primarily governed by Eddington ratio. This paper considers the role of C IV ?1549 measures as 4DE1 diagnostics. We use HST archival spectra for 130 sources with S/N high enough to permit reliable C IV ?1549 broad-component measures. We find a C IV ?1549BC profile blueshift that is strongly concentrated among (largely radio-quiet [RQ]) sources with FWHM(H?BC) 4000 km s-1 (which we call Population A). Narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1; with FWHM H? ? 2000 km s-1) sources belong to this population but do not emerge as a distinct class. The systematic blueshift, widely interpreted as arising in a disk wind/outflow, is not observed in broader line AGNs (including most radio-loud [RL] sources), which we call Population B. We find new correlations involving FWHM(C IV ?1549BC), C IV ?1549 line shift, and equivalent width only among Population A sources. Sulentic et al. suggested C IV ?1549 measures enhance an apparent dichotomy between sources with FWHM(H?BC) less and greater than 4000 km s-1, suggesting that it has more significance in the context of broad-line region structure than the more commonly discussed RL versus RQ dichotomy. Black hole masses computed from FWHM C IV ?1549BC for about 80 AGNs indicate that the C IV ?1549 width is a poor virial estimator. Comparison of mass estimates derived from H?BC and C IV ?1549 reveals that the latter show different and nonlinear offsets for Population A and B sources. A significant number of sources also show narrow-line C IV ?1549 emission that must be removed before C IV ?1549BC measures can be made and interpreted effectively. We present a recipe for C IV ?1549 narrow-component extraction.

C IV λ1549 as an Eigenvector 1 Parameter for Active Galactic Nuclei

[Abridged] We have been exploring a spectroscopic unification for all known types of broad line emitting AGN. The 4D Eigenvector 1 (4DE1) parameter space shows promise as a unification capable of organizing quasar diversity on a sequence primarily governed by Eddington ratio. This paper considers the role of CIV 1549 measures with special emphasis on the CIV 1549 line shift as a principal 4DE1 diagnostic. We use HST archival spectra for 130 sources with S/N high enough to permit reliable CIV 1549 broad component (BC) measures. We find a CIV 1549 BC profile blueshift that is strongly concentrated among (largely radio-quiet: RQ) sources with FWHM(H beta BC) < 4000 km/s (which we call Population A). Narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1, with FWHM H beta < 2000 km/s) sources belong to this population but do not emerge as a distinct class. The systematic blueshift, widely interpreted as arising in a disk wind/outflow, is not observed in broader lined AGN which we call Population B. We find new correlations between FWHM(CIV 1549 BC) and CIV 1549 line shift as well as the equivalent width of CIV 1549. They are seen only in Pop. A sources. CIV 1549 measures enhance the apparent dichotomy at FWHM(Hbeta BC) approx. 4000 \kms\ (Sulentic et al. 2000) suggesting that it has more significance in the context of Broad Line Region structure than the more commonly discussed RL vs. RQ dichotomy. Black hole masses computed from FWHM CIV 1549 BC for about 80 AGN indicate that the CIV 1549 width is a poor virial estimator. Comparison of mass estimates derived from Hbeta BC and CIV 1549 reveals that the latter show different and nonlinear offsets for population A and B sources. A significant number of sources also show narrow line CIV 1549 emission. We present a recipe for CIV 1549 narrow component extraction.

CIV 1549 as an Eigenvector 1 Parameter for Active Galactic Nuclei

We describe a method for estimating physical conditions in the broad-line region (BLR) for a significant subsample of Seyfert 1 nuclei and quasars. Several diagnostic ratios based on intermediate (Al III {lambda}1860, Si III] {lambda}1892) and high (C IV {lambda}1549, Si IV {lambda}1397) ionization lines in the UV spectra of quasars are used to constrain density, ionization, and metallicity of the emitting gas. We apply the method to two extreme Population A quasars-the prototypical NLSy1 I Zw 1 and higher z source SDSS J120144.36+011611.6. Under assumptions of spherical symmetry and pure photoionization we infer BLR physical conditions: low ionization (ionization parameter <10{sup -2}), high density (10{sup 12}-10{sup 13} cm{sup -3}), and significant metal enrichment. Ionization parameter and density can be derived independently for each source with an uncertainty that is less than {+-}0.3 dex. We use the product of density and ionization parameter to estimate the BLR radius and derive an estimation of the virial black hole mass (M{sub BH}). Estimates of M{sub BH} based on the 'photoionization' analysis described in this paper are probably more accurate than those derived from the mass-luminosity correlations widely employed to compute black hole masses for high-redshift quasars.

https://robots.iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/62/pdf

Broad-line Region Physical Conditions in Extreme Population A Quasars: A Method to Estimate Central Black Hole Mass at High Redshift

Black hole mass estimation in quasars, especially at high redshift, involves the use of single-epoch spectra with signal-to-noise ratio and resolution that permit accurate measurement of the width of a broad line assumed to be a reliable virial estimator. Coupled with an estimate of the radius of the broad-line region (BLR) this yields the black hole mass M BH. The radius of the BLR may be inferred from an extrapolation of the correlation between source luminosity and reverberation-derived r BLR measures (the so-called Kaspi relation involving about 60 low-z sources). We are exploring a different method for estimating r BLR directly from inferred physical conditions in the BLR of each source. We report here on a comparison of r BLR estimates that come from our method and from reverberation mapping. Our "photoionization" method employs diagnostic line intensity ratios in the rest-frame range 1400-2000 A (Al III λ1860/Si III] λ1892, C IV λ1549/Al III λ1860) that enable derivation of the product of density and ionization parameter with the BLR distance derived from the definition of the ionization parameter. We find good agreement between our estimates of the density, ionization parameter, and r BLR and those from reverberation mapping. We suggest empirical corrections to improve the agreement between individual photoionization-derived r BLR values and those obtained from reverberation mapping. The results in this paper can be exploited to estimate M BH for large samples of high-z quasars using an appropriate virial broadening estimator. We show that the width of the UV intermediate emission lines are consistent with the width of Hβ, thereby providing a reliable virial broadening estimator that can be measured in large samples of high-z quasars.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/771/1/31/pdf

REVERBERATION AND PHOTOIONIZATION ESTIMATES OF THE BROAD-LINE REGION RADIUS IN LOW-z QUASARS

[Abridged] Context: The advent of 8-10m class telescopes makes possible for the first time detailed comparison of quasars with similar luminosity and very different redshifts. Aims: A search for z-dependent gradients in line emission diagnostics and derived physical properties by comparing, in a narrow bolometric luminosity range (log L ~ 46.1 +/- 0.4 [\ergss]), some of the most luminous local (z < 0.6) quasars with some of the lowest luminosity sources yet found at redshift z = 2.1 ~ 2.5. Method: Spectra for 22 high z sources were obtained with the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) while the HST (largely FOS) archive provides a low redshift control sample. Comparison is made in the context of the 4D Eigenvector 1 formalism meaning that we divide both source samples into high accreting Population A and low accreting Population B sources. Results: CIV 1549 shows very similar properties at both redshifts confirming at high redshift the CIV profile differences between Pop. A and B that are well established in local quasars. The CIV blueshift that appears quasi- ubiquitous in higher L sources is found in only half (Pop. A) of quasars observed in both of our samples. A CIV evolutionary Baldwin effect is certainly disfavored. We find evidence for lower metallicity in the GTC sample that may point toward a gradient with z. No evidence for a gradient in black hole mass or Eddington ratio is found. Conclusions: Spectroscopic differences established at low redshift are also present in much higher redshift quasars. Given that our samples involve sources with very similar luminosity the evidence for a systematic metallicity decrease, if real, points toward an evolutionary effect. Our samples appear representative of a slow evolving quasar population likely present at all redshifts.

/pdf/gtc-spectra-of-z-2-3-quasars-comparison-with-local-193u8e6kiz.pdf

C. Alenka Negrete

Papers

C IV λ1549 as an Eigenvector 1 Parameter for Active Galactic Nuclei

CIV 1549 as an Eigenvector 1 Parameter for Active Galactic Nuclei

Broad-line Region Physical Conditions in Extreme Population A Quasars: A Method to Estimate Central Black Hole Mass at High Redshift

REVERBERATION AND PHOTOIONIZATION ESTIMATES OF THE BROAD-LINE REGION RADIUS IN LOW-z QUASARS

GTC Spectra of z ~ 2.3 Quasars: Comparison with Local Luminosity Analogues