QSOs as Signposts to Galaxy Evolution: Spectroscopic Clues to Winds, Jets, and Accretion

University Of Texas At Austin, Austin TX

Investigators

Abstract

AST 0206261 Wills, B J For low redshift quasars, the awardee and others have demonstrated clear relationships between black hole mass, the Eddington ratio, and spectroscopic properties, showing that copious dense, possibly metal- enriched, emission-line gas is present in the QSOs with highest Eddington ratio. The awardee will apply these relationships to QSOs at higher redshifts (1.2 -2.7), to explore the accretion history of the black hole. At these redshifts the important diagnostic lines of hydrogen H B, [OIII], He II ? 4686, and blended Fe II emission are shifted into the 1 um -5 um atmospheric 'windows ', and the UV emission and broad absorption lines shifted into the optical region. This program will involve near-infrared spectroscopy on national facilities as well as at 1 um -1.3 um with the Hobby-Eberly telescope. Existing UV rest-frame spectra will be used, with additional ground-based optical observations where needed (McDonald 2.7m and the HET). A pilot program by the awardee and student has demonstrated the feasibility of these observations, analysis, and interpretation.