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[78.16] Luminosity and Redshift Dependence of Quasar Spectral Properties in the SDSS

D.E. Vanden Berk, C.W. Yip, A.J. Connolly (Pittsburgh), C. Stoughton, S. Jester (Fermilab), SDSS Collaboration

Using a large sample of quasar spectra from the SDSS, we examine the composite spectral trends of quasars as functions of both redshift and luminosity, independently of one another. Aside from the well known Baldwin effect (BE) -- the decrease of line equivalent width with luminosity -- the average spectral properties are remarkably similar. Host galaxy contamination and the BE are the primary causes for apparent changes in the average spectral slope of the quasars. The BE is detected for most emission lines, including the Balmer lines, but with several exceptions including NV1240A. Emission line shifts of several lines are associated with the BE. The BE is mainly a function of luminosity, but also partly a function of redshift in that line equivalent widths become stronger with redshift. Some of the complex iron features change with redshift, particularly near the small blue bump region.

Funding for the SDSS is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, NASA, NSF, DOE, Monbukagakusho, Max Planck Society, and the member institutions. The SDSS web page is http://www.sdss.org.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.