A Synoptic, Multiwavelength Analysis of a Large Quasar Sample

Abstract

We present variability and multi-wavelength photometric information for the 933 known quasars in the QUEST Variability Survey. These quasars are grouped into variable and non-variable populations based on measured variability confidence levels. In a time-limited synoptic survey, we detect an anti-correlation between redshift and the likelihood of variability. Our comparison of variability likelihood to radio, IR, and X-ray data is consistent with earlier quasar studies. Using already-known quasars as a template, we introduce a light curve morphology algorithm that provides an efficient method for discriminating variable quasars from periodic variable objects in the absence of spectroscopic information. The establishment of statistically robust trends and efficient, non-spectroscopic selection algorithms will aid in quasar identification and categorization in upcoming massive synoptic surveys. Finally, we report on three interesting variable quasars, including variability confirmation of the BL Lac candidate PKS 1222+037.

AJ, accepted for publication 15 Dec 2005

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• Selecting Quasars by their Intrinsic Variability
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• Spectral variability of quasars from multi-epoch photometric data in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82
• The dependence of quasar variability on black hole mass
• The QUEST-La Silla AGN variability survey: connection between AGN variability and black hole physical properties
• Near Infrared Variability of obscured and unobscured X-ray selected AGN in the COSMOS field
• Ultraviolet variability of quasars: dependence on the accretion rate
• The ensemble photometric variability of over $10^5$ quasars in the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
• Spectral Variability of Quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. II: The C IV Line
• A structure function analysis of VST-COSMOS AGN
• Broad Absorption Line Variability in Radio-Loud Quasars
• The Mass-Richness Relation of MaxBCG Clusters from Quasar Lensing Magnification using Variability
• An Unobscured type II quasar candidate: SDSS J012032.19-005501.9
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• Ensemble Variability of Near-Infrared-Selected Active Galactic Nuclei
• Constraints on the Inner Regions of Lensing Galaxies from Central Images using a Recent AGN Offset Distribution
• Reverberation in the UV-Optical Continuum Brightness Fluctuations of MACHO Quasar 13.5962.237
• Exploring the Variable Sky with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey