The C iv linewidth distribution for quasars and its implications for broad-line region dynamics and virial mass estimation

S Fine, Scott Croom, Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Kevin Pimbblet, N Ross, D P Schneider, T Shanks

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    Abstract

    We perform an extensive analysis of the C iv 1549 line in three large spectroscopic surveys of quasars. Differing approaches for fitting the C iv line can be found in the literature, and we compare the most common methods to highlight the relative systematics associated with each. We choose the line-fitting procedure that results in a symmetric profile for the C iv line and gives accurate fits to local emission features around the line, and use this approach to measure the width of the C iv line in spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and 2dF QSO Redshift (2QZ) and 2dF SDSS LRG And QSO (2SLAQ) surveys.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)591 - 610
    Number of pages20
    JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
    Volume409
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

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