X-ray and multi-epoch optical/UV investigations of BAL to non-BAL quasar transformations

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Sameer S., Brandt W. N., Anderson S., Hall P. B., VIVEK M., Ak N., ...More

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, vol.482, no.1, pp.1121-1134, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 482 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/mnras/sty2718
  • Journal Name: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1121-1134
  • Keywords: galaxies: active, quasars: absorption lines, quasars: general, BROAD ABSORPTION-LINE, DIGITAL SKY SURVEY, SPECTRAL ENERGY-DISTRIBUTIONS, CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS, CONFIDENCE-LIMITS, EMISSION-LINE, DISK WINDS, VARIABILITY, RADIO, OUTFLOWS
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We report on an X-ray and optical/ultraviolet (UV) study of eight broad absorption line (BAL) to non-BAL transforming quasars at z approximate to 1.7-2.2 over 0.29-4.95 rest-frame years with at least three spectroscopic epochs for each quasar from the SDSS, BOSS, Gemini, and ARC 3.5 m telescopes. New Chandra observations obtained for these objects show that their values of alpha(ox) and Delta alpha(ox), as well as their spectral energy distributions, are consistent with those of non-BAL quasars. Moreover, our targets have X-ray spectral shapes that are, on average, consistent with weakened absorption with an effective power-law photon index of Gamma(eff) = 1.69(-0.25)(+0.25). The newer Gemini and ARC 3.5 m spectra reveal that the BAL troughs have remained absent since the BOSS observations where the BAL disappearance was discovered. The X-ray and optical/UV results in tandem are consistent with at least the X-ray-absorbing material moving out of the line of sight, leaving an X-ray-unabsorbed non-BAL quasar. The UV absorber might have become more highly ionized (in a shielding-gas scenario) or also moved out of the line of sight (in a wind-clumping scenario).