Related papers: FeLoBAL Outflow Variability Constraints from Multi…
Among the unusual broad absorption line quasars being found by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) are objects with much stronger absorption in Fe III than Fe II. These unusual line ratios require a high density in the outflow (n_H >= 3 x…
The variability of broad absorption lines is investigated for a sample of 188 broad-absorption-line (BAL) quasars (QSOs) ($z > 1.7$) with at least two-epoch observations from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7), covering…
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has discovered a population of broad absorption line quasars with various extreme properties. Many show absorption from metastable states of FeII with varying excitations; several objects are almost completely…
We present a detailed investigation of the variability of 428 C IV and 235 Si IV Broad Absorption Line (BAL) troughs identified in multi-epoch observations of 291 quasars by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-I/II/III. These observations…
Broad absorption lines (BALs) are present in the spectra of ~20% of quasars (QSOs); this indicates fast outflows (up to 0.2c) that intercept the observer's line of sight. These QSOs can be distinguished again into radio-loud (RL) BAL QSOs…
We use quantitative metrics to characterize the variation of CIV 1549 A broad absorption lines (BALs) over 3--6 (rest-frame) years in a sample of 13 quasars at 1.7 <= z <= 2.8 and compare the results to previous studies of BAL variability…
We conduct a spectroscopic search of quasars observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with broad absorption line (BAL) troughs due to Mg II and troughs due to Fe II that simultaneously exhibit strong Balmer narrow emission lines…
Very few low-ionization broad absorption line (LoBAL) QSOs have been found at high redshifts to date. One high-redshift LoBAL QSO, J0122+1216, was recently discovered at the Lijiang 2.4-m Telescope with an initial redshift determination of…
It is thought that a class of broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs, characterised by Fe absorption features in their UV spectra (called `FeLoBALs'), could mark a transition stage between the end of an obscured starburst event and a youthful QSO…
We investigate the continuum and emission-line properties of 224 broad absorption line quasars (BALQSOs) with 0.9<z<4.4 drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Early Data Release (EDR), which contains 3814 bona fide quasars. We find…
We have discovered two low-ionization broad absorption line quasars in programs to obtain optical spectra for radio-selected quasar candidates from the VLA FIRST Survey (Becker, White, & Helfand 1995). Both belong to the extremely rare…
The early stage of massive galaxy evolution often involves outflows driven by a starburst or a central quasar plus cold mode accretion (infall), which adds to the mass build-up in the galaxies. To study the nature of these infall and…
We present a sample of 68 low-z MgII low-ionization broad absorption-line (loBAL) quasars. The sample is uniformly selected from the SDSS5 according to the following criteria: (1) 0.4<z<0.8, (2) median S/N>7, and (3) MgII absorption-line…
We present a two-epoch Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Gemini/GMOS+William Herschel Telescope/ISIS variability study of 50 broad absorption line quasars of redshift range 1.9 < z < 4.2, containing 38 Si IV and 59 C IV BALs and spanning…
We report spectropolarimetry of 30 radio-selected broad absorption line (BAL) quasars with the Keck Observatory, 25 from the sample of Becker et al. (2000). Both high and low-ionization BAL quasars are represented, with redshifts ranging…
The broad Mg II line in quasars has distinct variability properties compared with broad Balmer lines: it is less variable, and usually does not display a "breathing" mode, the increase in the average cloud distance when luminosity…
Recent studies have shown that outflows in at least some broad absorption line (BAL) quasars are extended well beyond the putative dusty torus. Such outflows should be detectable in obscured quasars. We present four WISE selected infrared…
We present near-IR spectroscopy of 22 luminous low-ionization broad absorption line quasars (LoBAL QSOs) at redshift 1.3<z<2.5, with 12 objects at z~1.5 and 10 at z~2.3. The spectra cover the rest-frame H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ line regions,…
We report the discovery of disappearance of Mg ii, Al iii, C iv, and Si iv broad absorption lines (BALs) at the same velocity, accompanied by a new Civ BAL emerging at a higher velocity, in the quasar J0827+4252 at z = 2.038. This is the…
We present preliminary results from an investigation into broad absorption line (BAL) variability within a sample of 41 radio-loud quasars (RLQs). Using 28 new Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) spectra along with earlier Sloan Digital Sky Survey…