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D.E. Vanden Berk (Fermilab), G.T. Richards (Chicago), SDSS Collaboration
We have created a composite QSO spectrum using over 1000 early spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The broad spectral coverage, high resolution, high S/N, wide redshift range, and large number of spectra make the SDSS QSO sample ideal for the construction of composites. The spectrum extends from well-below the 912{Å} Lyman limit to over 8500{Å} in the rest frame, and reaches a peak signal-to-noise ratio of over 300 at a rest wavelength resolution of 1{Å} -- 2 to 4 times better than the previously best UV/optical QSO composite. A single power-law fit to the continuum gives a wavelength exponent of -1.7, consistent with previous measurements. Numerous weak emission features are detected, and we have identified the majority of them. The spectrum is being used as a cross-correlation template for QSOs in the SDSS spectroscopic survey. A number of other scientific applications are also discussed.
The SDSS is a joint project of the University of Chicago, Fermilab, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Japan Participation Group, Johns Hopkins University, Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, Princeton University, United States Naval Observatory and the University of Washington. Funding has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the member institutions, NASA, NSF, the U.S. DoE, and the Ministry of Education of Japan.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: danvb@fnal.gov