Journal article
Quasar Radio Dichotomy: Two Peaks, or not Two Peaks, that is the Question
20 Oct 2003
Abstract
Recent claims by Ivezic et al. (2002) that the distribution of the
radio-to-optical flux ratio, R, for quasars is bimodal (the so-called quasar
radio dichotomy) were questioned on statistical grounds by Cirasuolo et al.
(2003). We apply the approach suggested by Cirasuolo et al. to a sample of
\~10,000 objects detected by SDSS and FIRST, and find support for the quasar
radio dichotomy. The discrepancy between the claims by Cirasuolo et al. and the
results presented here is most likely because 1) the ~100 times larger sample
based on two homogeneous surveys that is used here allows a direct
determination of the R distribution, rather than relying on indirect inferences
based on Monte Carlo simulations of several heterogeneous surveys 2) the
accurate SDSS colors and redshift information allow robust determination of the
K-correction for R, which, if unaccounted for, introduces significant scatter
that masks the intrinsic properties of the quasar R distribution.
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Details
- Title
- Quasar Radio Dichotomy: Two Peaks, or not Two Peaks, that is the Question
- Creators
- Z IvezicG. T RichardsP. B HallR. H LuptonA. S JagodaG. R KnappJ. E GunnM. A StraussD SchlegelW SteinhardtR. J Siverd
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Identifiers
- 991019201384604721