The X-Ray Properties of the Optically Brightest Mini-BAL Quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5
Abstract
Broad absorption lines (BALs) in quasars (QSOs) are traditionally defined as having velocity widths of at least 2,000 km/s, while "mini-BALs" are defined as having intermediate velocity widths between 1,000 and 2,000 km/s. We have compiled a sample of 14 of the optically brightest radio-quiet quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5 QSO catalog for which a mini-BAL is present, with redshift z > 1.9 and BEST photometric apparent magnitude, mi <= 17.5. X-ray data for twelve of the objects were obtained via a Chandra snapshot survey using ACIS-S, while the data for the other two quasars were obtained from archival XMM-Newton observations. We discuss the mini-BAL properties, such as outflow velocity and absorption index, as well as the distribution in X-ray to optical spectral slope of mini-BALs, BALs and non-BALs. We aim to not only acquire information about the nuclear regions and outflows in quasars, but also to try to judge whether mini-BALs and BALs are both part of a continuum of absorber properties or are entirely different phenomena.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21541131C