Broad Absorption Line Variability in Radio-Loud Quasars

TL;DR

This study investigates the variability of broad absorption lines in radio-loud quasars, finding that such variability is common over time and similar to radio-quiet quasars, with some dependence on quasar morphology.

Contribution

It provides new observational data on BAL variability in radio-loud quasars, including a comparison with radio-quiet quasars and insights into the influence of radio morphology.

Findings

BAL variability involves modest changes in absorption depth.

Variability increases with longer rest-frame timescales.

Lobe-dominated RLQs may exhibit greater fractional variability.

Abstract

We present preliminary results from an investigation into broad absorption line (BAL) variability within a sample of 41 radio-loud quasars (RLQs). Using 28 new Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) spectra along with earlier Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) or other archival data, we generate a total set of 50 pairs of BAL equivalent width measurements. Absorption variability in BAL RLQs typically consists of modest changes in the depth of trough segments, and variability is more common on longer rest-frame timescales; these tendencies are similar to previous findings for BAL radio-quiet quasars (RQQs). BAL variability in RLQs does not show any obvious dependence upon radio luminosity or loudness, but there is suggestive support for greater fractional variability within lobe-dominated RLQs.