Files and links (2)
SubmittedOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
A MULTIWAVELENGTH STUDY OF BINARY QUASARS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS
The Astrophysical journal, v 743(1), pp 81-jQuery1323900786176='48'
10 Dec 2011
Abstract
We present Chandra X-ray imaging and spectroscopy for 14 quasars in spatially resolved pairs targeted as part of a complete sample of binary quasars with small transverse separations drawn from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSSDR6) photometry. We measure the X-ray properties of all 14 QSOs, and study the distribution of X-ray and optical-to-X-ray power-law indices in these binary quasars. We find no significant difference when compared with large control samples of isolated quasars, true even for SDSS J1254+0846, discussed in detail in a companion paper, which clearly inhabits an ongoing, pre-coalescence galaxy merger showing obvious tidal tails. We present infrared photometry from our observations with SAO Wide-field InfraRed Camera at the MMT, and from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer Preliminary Data Release, and fit simple spectral energy distributions to all 14 QSOs. We find preliminary evidence that substantial contributions from star formation are required, but possibly no more so than for isolated X-ray-detected QSOs. Sensitive searches of the X-ray images for extended emission and the optical images for optical galaxy excess show that these binary QSOs-expected to occur in strong peaks of the dark matter distribution-are not preferentially found in rich cluster environments. While larger binary QSO samples with richer far-IR and submillimeter multiwavelength data might better reveal signatures of merging and triggering, optical color selection of QSO pairs may be biased against such signatures. X-ray and/or variability selection of QSO pairs, while challenging, should be attempted. We present in an Appendix a primer on X-ray flux and luminosity calculations.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- A MULTIWAVELENGTH STUDY OF BINARY QUASARS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS
- Creators
- Paul J. Green - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianAdam D. Myers - University of WyomingWayne A. Barkhouse - University of North DakotaThomas L. Aldcroft - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianMarkos Trichas - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianGordon T. Richards - Drexel UniversityAngel Ruiz - Institute of Physics of CantabriaPhilip F. Hopkins - Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Astrophysics Centre, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Publication Details
- The Astrophysical journal, v 743(1), pp 81-jQuery1323900786176='48'
- Publisher
- Iop Publishing Ltd
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- GO9-0114A; GO9-0114B; NAS8-03060 / National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) Max Planck Society; Foundation CELLEX NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF) Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Higher Education Funding Council for England; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Japanese Monbukagakusho; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) US Department of Energy; United States Department of Energy (DOE)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000297408300081
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-82255180534
- Other Identifier
- 991019168650004721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Astronomy & Astrophysics