Improving Damped Random Walk Parameters for SDSS Stripe 82 Quasars with Pan-STARRS1

We use the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System 1 Survey (Pan-STARRS1, PS1) data to extend the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 quasar light curves. Combining PS1 and SDSS light curves provides a 15 yr baseline for 9248 quasars—5 yr longer than prior studies that used only SDSS. We fit the light curves with the damped random walk (DRW) model—a statistical description of their variability. We correlate the resulting DRW model parameters: asymptotic variability amplitude SF_∞, and characteristic timescale τ, with quasar physical properties—black hole mass, bolometric luminosity, and redshift. Using simulated light curves, we find that a longer baseline allows us to better constrain the DRW parameters. After adding PS1 data, the variability amplitude is a stronger function of the black hole mass and has a weaker dependence on quasar luminosity. In addition, the characteristic timescale τ dependence on quasar luminosity is marginally weaker. We also make predictions for the fidelity of DRW model parameter retrieval when light curves will be further extended with Zwicky Transient Facility and Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time data. Finally, we show how updated DRW parameters offer an independent method of discovering changing-look quasar candidates (CLQSOs). The candidates are outliers in terms of differences in magnitude and scatter between the SDSS and PS1 segments. We identify 40 objects (35 newly reported) with a tenfold increase in the variability timescale between SDSS and SDSS-PS1 data due to a large change in brightness (over 0.5 mag)—characteristic for CLQSOs.