The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Details The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

2003-10-13

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310336v1

Astrophys.J.601:692-714,2004

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

41 pages, 21 figures, AASTeX, Accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/380563

Using a sample of over 25000 spectroscopically confirmed quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we show how quasar variability in the rest frame optical/UV regime depends upon rest frame time lag, luminosity, rest wavelength, redshift, the presence of radio and X-ray emission, and the presence of broad absorption line systems. The time dependence of variability (the structure function) is well-fit by a single power law on timescales from days to years. There is an anti-correlation of variability amplitude with rest wavelength, and quasars are systematically bluer when brighter at all redshifts. There is a strong anti-correlation of variability with quasar luminosity. There is also a significant positive correlation of variability amplitude with redshift, indicating evolution of the quasar population or the variability mechanism. We parameterize all of these relationships. Quasars with RASS X-ray detections are significantly more variable (at optical/UV wavelengths) than those without, and radio loud quasars are marginally more variable than their radio weak counterparts. We find no significant difference in the variability of quasars with and without broad absorption line troughs. Models involving multiple discrete events or gravitational microlensing are unlikely by themselves to account for the data. So-called accretion disk instability models are promising, but more quantitative predictions are needed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Ensemble Photometric Variability of ~25000 Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-427938