English

Extending the Eigenvector 1 Space to the Optical Variability of Quasars

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2009-11-13 v2

Abstract

We introduce a new physical parameter, the optical variability amplitude, to the well-established Eigenvector 1 space of quasars and test a sample of long-term B-band light curves of 42 PG quasars monitored by Giveon et al. (1999). We find that the optical variability amplitude strongly correlates with the intensity ratio of Fe II to Hβ\beta, Hβ\beta width and peak luminosity at 5007A˚\rm{\AA}. We briefly discuss the physical meaning of our findings and suggest that the Eddington ratio may be a key factor in determining a quasar's variability.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0904.4031,
  title  = {Extending the Eigenvector 1 Space to the Optical Variability of Quasars},
  author = {Yufeng Mao and Jing Wang and Jianyan Wei},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0904.4031},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

16 pages, 4 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T12:55:08.045Z