arXiv subjects

John D. Silverman

Publications and source records attributed to John D. Silverman.

133 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

The SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: The Quasar Luminosity Function from Data Release Nine

We present a new measurement of the optical Quasar Luminosity Function (QLF), using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-III: Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (SDSS-III: BOSS). From the SDSS-III Data Release Nine (DR9), we select a uniform sample of 22,301 i<=21.8 quasars over an area of 2236 sq. deg with confirmed spectroscopic redshifts between 2.2<z<3.5, filling in a key part of the luminosity-redshift plane for optical quasar studies. We derive the completeness of the survey through simulated quasar photometry, and check this completeness estimate using a sample of quasars selected by their photometric variability within the BOSS footprint. We investigate the level of systematics associated with our quasar sample using the simulations, in the process generating color-redshift relations and a new quasar k-correction. We probe the faint end of the QLF to M_i(z=2.2) = -24.5 and see a clear break in the QLF at all redshifts up to z=3.5. We find that a log-linear relation (in log[Phi*] - M*) for a luminosity and density evolution (LEDE) model adequately describes our data within the range 2.2<z<3.5; across this interval the break luminosity increases by a factor of ~2.3 while Phi* declines by a factor of ~6. At z<2.2 our data is reasonably well fit by a pure luminosity evolution (PLE) model. We see only a weak signature of "AGN downsizing", in line with recent studies of the hard X-ray luminosity function. We compare our measured QLF to a number of theoretical models and find that models making a variety of assumptions about quasar triggering and halo occupation can fit our data over a wide range of redshifts and luminosities.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

SDSS 0956+5128: A Broad-line Quasar with Extreme Velocity Offsets

We report on the discovery of a Type 1 quasar, SDSS 0956+5128, with a surprising combination of extreme velocity offsets. SDSS 0956+5128 is a broad-lined quasar exhibiting emission lines at three substantially different redshifts: a systemic redshift of z ~ 0.714 based on narrow emission lines, a broad MgII emission line centered 1200 km/s bluer than the systemic velocity, at z ~ 0.707, and broad Hαand Hβemission lines centered at z ~ 0.690. The Balmer line peaks are 4100 km/s bluer than the systemic redshift. There are no previously known objects with such an extreme difference between broad MgII and broad Balmer emission. The two most promising explanations are either an extreme disk emitter or a high-velocity black hole recoil. However, neither explanation appears able to explain all of the observed features of SDSS 0956+5128, so the object may provide a challenge to our general understanding of quasar physics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Do Anomalous Narrow Line Quasars Cast Doubt on Virial Mass Estimation?

Anomalous Narrow-Line Quasars (ANLs) are a population of quasars with narrow Hβ, and sometimes [O III] broader than ~1000 km/s, in total comprising \sim 10-30% (most likely ~25%) of Type I quasars at 0.2 < z < 0.8. We find that virial masses using the Hβand Mg II lines systematically differ for ANLs by an average of as much as 0.5 dex. Because the broad Hβcomponent width increases in ANLs but Mg II does not, we might suspect Hβ-based virial masses for ANLs are wrong but Mg II masses are correct. If this is due to an outflow reaching the lower-ionization potential Hβline, C IV masses will be similarly flawed. However, we cannot be certain of this explanation without followup work, and may be unable to identify which quasars are ANLs at z > 0.8. Therefore, it is essential that ANLs be well-understood and well-modeled in order to allow the use of virial mass estimators on large optical spectroscopic catalogs, particularly at z < 0.4 and z > 2.0 where only one broad line is available for use in mass estimation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Star formation in galaxies hosting Active Galactic Nuclei up to z~1

We review recent evidence for a clear association between accretion onto supermassive black holes and star formation up to z~1 in the zCOSMOS survey. Star formation rates (SFRs) are determined from the [OII] emission-line strength and a correction for the AGN contribution. We find that SFRs of X-ray selected AGN span a distribution of 1-100 solar masses per year and evolve in a manner that is indistinguishable from that of massive, star-forming galaxies. The close relationship between AGN activity and star formation is further supported by an increase in the AGN fraction with bluer rest-frame colors (U-V); we further illustrate how the location of AGNs in a color-magnitude diagram can be misleading in luminosity-limited samples due to the dependence of AGN activity on the stellar mass and the low mass-to-light ratios of blue cloud galaxies. To conclude, our results support a co-evolutionary scenario up to z~1 based on the constancy with redshift of the ratio between mass accretion rate and SFR.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2006

Chandra Multiwavelength Project X-ray Point Source Number Counts and the Cosmic X-ray Background

We present the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP) X-ray point source number counts and the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) flux densities in multiple energy bands. From the ChaMP X-ray point source catalog, ~5,500 sources are selected covering 9.6 deg^2 in sky area. To quantitatively characterize the sensitivity and completeness of the ChaMP sample, we perform extensive simulations. We also include the ChaMP+CDFs (Chandra Deep Fields) number counts to cover large flux ranges from 2x10^{-17} to 2.4x10^{-12} (0.5-2 keV) and from 2x10^{-16} to 7.1x10^{-12} (2-8 keV) erg/cm^2/sec. The ChaMP and the ChaMP+CDFs differential number counts are well fitted with a broken power law. The best fit faint and bright power indices are 1.49^{+0.02}_{-0.02} and 2.36^{+0.05}_{-0.05} (0.5-2 keV), and 1.58^{+0.01}_{-0.01} and 2.59^{+0.06}_{-0.05} (2-8 keV), respectively. We detect breaks in the differential number counts and they appear at different fluxes in different energy bands. Assuming a single power law model for a source spectrum, we find that the same population(s) of soft X-ray sources causes the break in the differential number counts for all energy bands. We measure the resolved CXRB flux densities from the ChaMP and the ChaMP+CDFs number counts with and without bright target sources. Adding the known unresolved CXRB to the ChaMP+CDF resolved CXRB, we also estimate total CXRB flux densities. The fractions of the resolved CXRB without target sources are 78^{+1}_{-1}% and 81^{+2}_{-2}% in the 0.5-2 keV and 2-8 keV bands, respectively, somewhat lower, though generally consistent with earlier numbers since their large errors. These fractions increase by ~1% when target sources are included.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Chandra Multiwavelength Project X-ray Point Source Catalog

We present the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP) X-ray point source catalog with ~6,800 X-ray sources detected in 149 Chandra observations covering \~10 deg^2. The full ChaMP catalog sample is seven times larger than the initial published ChaMP catalog. The exposure time of the fields in our sample ranges from 0.9 to 124 ksec, corresponding to a deepest X-ray flux limit of f_{0.5-8.0} = 9 x 10^{-16} erg/cm2/sec. The ChaMP X-ray data have been uniformly reduced and analyzed with ChaMP-specific pipelines, and then carefully validated by visual inspection. The ChaMP catalog includes X-ray photometric data in 8 different energy bands as well as X-ray spectral hardness ratios and colors. To best utilize the ChaMP catalog, we also present the source reliability, detection probability and positional uncertainty. To quantitatively assess those parameters, we performed extensive simulations. In particular, we present a set of empirical equations: the flux limit as a function of effective exposure time, and the positional uncertainty as a function of source counts and off axis angle. The false source detection rate is ~1% of all detected ChaMP sources, while the detection probability is better than ~95% for sources with counts >30 and off axis angle <5 arcmin. The typical positional offset between ChaMP X-ray source and their SDSS optical counterparts is 0.7+-0.4 arcsec, derived from ~900 matched sources.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

X-ray emitting AGN unveiled by the Chandra Multiwavelength Project

We present an X-ray and optical analysis of a 2-8 keV flux limited (fx > 10e-14 erg s^-1 cm^-2) sample of 126 AGN detected in 16 Chandra fields. This work represents a small though significant subset of the Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP). We have chosen this limiting flux to have a reasonable degree of completeness (50%) in our optical spectroscopic identifications. The optical counterparts of these AGN are characterized as either broad emission line AGN (BLAGN; 67%), narrow emission line galaxies (NELG; 22%) or absorption line galaxies (ALG; 11%) without any evidence of an AGN signature. Based on their X-ray luminosity and spectral properties, we show that NELG and ALG are primarily the hosts of obscured AGN with an intrinsic absorbing column in the range of 10^21.5<NH<10^23.3 cm^-2. While most of the BLAGN are unobscured, there are a few with substantial absorption. X-ray surveys such as the ChaMP nicely complement the SDSS to determine the demographics of the AGN population.

astro-ph↗