Quasar Pairs as Large--Scale Structure tracers

Abstract

Quasars are effective tracers of the large-scale distribution of galaxies at high redshift thanks to their high luminosity and dedicated surveys. Previous studies have shown that quasars exhibit a bias similar to that of rich groups, indicating that quasar pairs may be linked to higher density environments, serving as protocluster proxies. In this work, we aim to characterize close quasar pairs within the same halo by identifying them in redshift space. We analyze pair-quasar cross correlations and CMB-derived lensing convergence profiles centered in these systems. We have identified 2777 pairs of quasars in the redshift range from 1.2 to 2.8. Quasar pairs exhibit a distribution of relative luminosities that differs from that of random pairs with the same redshift distribution, indicating that quasars in these systems are distinct from isolated ones. The cross-correlation between pairs and quasars shows a larger amplitude than the auto-correlation function of quasars, suggesting these systems are more strongly biased toward the large-scale mass distribution and reside in more massive halos. This is further supported by higher convergence CMB lensing profiles of pairs compared to isolated quasars with a similar redshift distribution. Our results indicate that quasar pairs are suitable precursors to present-day clusters of galaxies, unlike isolated quasars, which are associated with less dense environments.

12 pages, 18 figures. Version updated. Accepted for its publication in AA

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