Dissertation
Broad and narrow intrinsic absorption in quasars as it relates to outflows, orientation, and radio properties
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Dec 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/SN3K-7A35
Abstract
This work provides evidence that a large fraction of narrow absorption lines (NALs) seen along the line of sight to distant quasars are due to accretion disk winds, while also seeking to understand the relationship between NALs and certain quasar-intrinsic properties. We extend the results from past work in the literature with velocity distributions (dN/d[beta]) of ~ 108,000 NALs from a sample of ~ 58,000 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasars. The primary results of this work are summarized as follows: (1) the velocity distribution of NALs is independent of radio loudness (or even detection) once marginalized by optical/UV luminosity; (2) there are significant differences in the number and distribution of NALs as a function of both radio spectral index and optical/UV luminosity and these two findings are not entirely interdependent; (3) improvements in quasar systemic redshift measurements, analysis of NALs in broad absorption line quasars, and differences in the NAL distribution as a combined function of optical luminosity and radio spectral index--together provide evidence that a significant portion of NALs are due to quasar outflows; (4) the results are consistent with standard models of accretion disk winds governed by the L_UV-[alpha]_ox relationship and line-of-sight orientation indicated by radio spectral index; and (5) possibly supports the magnetically arrested disk model as an explanation for the semi-stochastic nature of strong radio emission in a fraction of quasars.
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Details
- Title
- Broad and narrow intrinsic absorption in quasars as it relates to outflows, orientation, and radio properties
- Creators
- Robert Bernard Stone - DU
- Contributors
- Gordon T. Richards (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 59 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Arts and Sciences; Physics; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 8278; 991014632216404721