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Green, Paul

Publications and source records attributed to Green, Paul.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog: Sixteenth Data Release

We present the final Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV) quasar catalog from Data Release 16 of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS). This catalog comprises the largest selection of spectroscopically confirmed quasars to date. The full catalog includes two subcatalogs (the current versions are DR16Q_v4 and DR16Q_Superset_v3 at https://data.sdss.org/sas/dr16/eboss/qso/DR16Q/): a "superset" of all SDSS-IV/eBOSS objects targeted as quasars containing 1,440,615 observations and a quasar-only catalog containing 750,414 quasars, including 225,082 new quasars appearing in an SDSS data release for the first time, as well as known quasars from SDSS-I/II/III. We present automated identification and redshift information for these quasars alongside data from visual inspections for 320,161 spectra. Here, the quasar-only catalog is estimated to be 99.8% complete with 0.3%-1.3% contamination. Automated and visual inspection redshifts are supplemented by redshifts derived via principal component analysis and emission lines. We include emission-line redshifts for Hα, Hβ, Mg II, C III], C IV, and Lyα. Identification and key characteristics generated by automated algorithms are presented for 99,856 broad absorption-line quasars and 35,686 damped Lyman alpha quasars. In addition to SDSS photometric data, we also present multiwavelength data for quasars from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, UKIDSS, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, FIRST, ROSAT/2RXS, XMM-Newton, and Gaia. Calibrated digital optical spectra for these quasars can be obtained from the SDSS Science Archive Server.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Unveiling the Engines in QSOs: Multi-Wavelength Study

UV/optical emission lines offer some of the most detailed information obtainable about the intrinsic properties of quasars. Studies of the density, ionization and metal abundance of gas near the accreting black hole are probed through an intriguing but poorly understood complex of correlations between emission lines and overall quasar spectral energy distributions that has long suffered from a lack of large, consistently measured samples. As part of a broader effort to expand and systematize the data upon which these studies are built, we proposed to NASA to model, fit, and measure UV/optical emission line parameters in large samples of quasar spectra. As part of the project, we developed an automated measurement technique that accounts for galactic reddening, includes iron emission blends, galactic and intrinsic absorption lines, and performs multi-component fits to the emission line profiles. We present measured line parameters (equivalent width and FWHM) for a large number of (28) different UV/optical lines, including upper limits for undetected lines.

Green, Paul↗

Emission Lines and the High Energy Continuum

Quasars show many striking relationships between line and continuum radiation whose origins remain a mystery. FeII, [OIII], Hbeta, and HeII emission line properties correlate with high energy continuum properties such as the relative strength of X-ray emission, and X-ray continuum slope. At the same time, the shape of the high energy continuum may vary with luminosity. An important tool for studying global properties of Quasi Stellar Objects (QSOs) is the co-addition of data for samples of QSOS. We use this to show that X-ray bright (XB) QSOs show stronger emission lines in general, but particularly from the narrow line region. The difference in the [OIII]/Hbeta ratio is particularly striking, and even more so when blended FeII emission is properly subtracted. Weaker narrow forbidden lines ([OII] and NeV) are enhanced by factors of 2 to 3 in both UV and optical XB composite spectra. The physical origin of these diverse and interrelated correlations has yet to be determined. Unfortunately, many physically informative trends intrinsic to QSOs may be masked by dispersion in the data due to either low signal-to-noise or variability. An important tool for studying global properties of QSOs is the co-addition of data for samples of QSOS. We use this to show that X-ray bright (XB) QSOs show stronger emission lines in general, but particularly from the narrow line region. The difference in the [OIII]/Hbeta ratio is particularly striking, and even more so when blended Fell emission is properly subtracted. Weaker narrow forbidden lines ([OII] and NeV) are enhanced by factors of 2 to 3 in both UV and optical XB composite spectra. We describe a large-scale effort now underway to probe these effects in large samples, using both data and analysis as homogeneous as possible. Using an HST FOS Atlas of QSO spectra, with primary comparison to ROSAT PSPC spectral constraints, we will model the Big Blue Bump, its relationship to luminosity and QSO type, and we will analyze and contrast line emission and UV/X-ray continuum properties. Absorption of the continuum near the broad emission line region may play a profound role, which we will be able to constrain by direct analysis of observed UV/X-ray spectral absorption.

Green, Paul↗

Photometry and spectroscopy of Nova Herculis 1991

Observations of Nova Herculis 1991 obtained during the months of 1991 May-September are presented. Spectral observations a few weeks after outburst constrain the distance to Nova Her to between 6 and 12 kpc and show evidence of dust formation in the expanding shell and line profiles with five components having large expansion velocities. Initial photometric observations of the nova in June showed the nova had declined approximately ten magnitudes in the V band from its maximum, and by September, the nova had dimmed by approximately two additional magnitudes. The period derived from these observations agrees with that reported by Leibowitz et al. (1992). Periodic eclipses with a depth of about 0.7 V mag are observed, and the depths of the eclipses are constant over a 2-month period while the overall brightness diminished by one magnitude. The long duration of the eclipses indicates an eclipse of an extended source, likely the accretion disk.

Ingram, Doug↗