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Discovery of a 2 Kpc Binary Quasar

G. A. Shields·V. Junkkarinen·E. A. Beaver·E. M. Burbidge·R. D. Cohen·F. Hamann·R. W. Lyons
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Abstract

LBQS 0103$-$2753 is a binary quasar with a separation of only 0.3 arcsec. The projected spacing of 2.3 kpc at the distance of the source (z = 0.848) is much smaller than that of any other known binary QSO. The binary nature is demonstrated by the very different spectra of the two components and the low probability of a chance pairing. LBQS 0103$-$2753 presumably is a galaxy merger with a small physical separation between the two supermassive black holes. Such objects may provide important constraints on the evolution of binary black holes and the fueling of AGN.

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G. A. Shields, V. Junkkarinen, E. A. Beaver, E. M. Burbidge, R. D. Cohen, F. Hamann, R. W. Lyons. 2001-04-13. Discovery of a 2 Kpc Binary Quasar. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1419583

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