Quasar Emission Line Variability from Hubble Space Telescope Archive Data
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Authors
Hogan, Kasey M.
Issue Date
2015-04-10
Type
poster_presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Physics , Quasars , Astrophysics
Alternative Title
Abstract
Using the Hubble Space Telescope Archive (HST), flux variations in low-redshift (z < 1.7) quasar spectra were measured and analyzed. Flux variations were measured for the Ly? ?1216 broad emission line (BEL), CIV ?1549 BEL, and continuum emission from the central ionizing source. Quasars and active galactic nuclei (AGN) that have spectral data for at least two points in time to obtain flux ratios were used. Custom Python scripts were written to quicken the process of analyzing raw HST spectral data. The results show a strong correlation to the flux variations for the Ly? BEL and the CIV BEL, and less so for the continuum emission and each BEL. By using this statistical approach and continuing to build up a database of flux variability, information can be obtained that will be useful to modeling quasar activity.