Extremely Red Quasars (ERQs) are thought to represent a brief episode of young quasar and galactic evolution characterized by rapid outflows and obscured growth due to dusty environments. We use new redshift measurements from CO and narrow Ly α emission-lines to better constrain outflow velocities from previous line measurements. We present sample of 82 ERQs, and the analysis confirms that ERQs have a higher incidence of large C iv blueshifts, accompanied by large Rest Equivalent Width (REW) and narrower line Full Width at Half-Maximum (FWHM) than blue quasars. We find that strong blueshifts (>2000 km s−1) are present in 12/54 (22.2 per cent) of ERQs with the most robust redshift indicators. At least 4 out of 15 ERQs in the sample also have blueshifts in their H β and low-ionization ultraviolet lines ranging from −500 to −1500 km s−1. ERQs with strong C iv blueshifts are substantially offset in C iv REW and FWHM from typical blue quasars in the same velocity range. ERQs have average values of REW = 124 Å and FWHM = 5274 km s−1, while blue quasars have REW = 24 Å and FWHM = 6973 km s−1. The extreme nature of the outflows in ERQs might explain some of their other spectral properties, such as the large C iv REWs and peculiar wingless profiles owing to more extended broad-line regions participating in outflows. The physical reasons for the extreme outflow properties of ERQs are unclear; however, larger Eddington ratios and/or softer ionizing spectra incident on the outflow gas cannot be ruled out.
We investigate possible factors that drive fast quasar outflows using a sample of 39 249 quasars at median redshift 〈z〉 ≈ 2.17. Unique to this study, the quasar redshifts are re-measured based on the Mg ii emission line, and explore unprecedented outflow velocities (>6000 km s−1), while maintaining statistical significance. We measure reliable C iv blueshifts for 1178 quasars with velocities >2500 km s−1. From those, 255(13) quasars have blueshifts above 4000(6000) km s−1, with the highest C iv velocity ≈7000 km s−1. Several correlations are observed, where higher C iv blueshifts in general are in quasars with broader, weaker C iv emission profiles, weak He ii emission, larger Eddington ratios, and bluer ultraviolet (UV) continuum slope across the rest-frame UV to near-infrared. Analysis reveals two primary factors contributing to faster outflows: higher Eddington ratios, and softer far-UV continuum (hν >24.6 eV). We find supporting evidence that radiative line driving may generate extreme outflow velocities, influenced by multiple factors as suggested by the aforementioned correlations. This evidence highlights the importance of considering a multidimensional parameter space in future studies when analyzing large C iv blueshifts to determine the fundamental causes of outflows.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10491622
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Volume:
- 528
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0035-8711
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 6425-6443
- Size(s):
- p. 6425-6443
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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