X-ray and multi-epoch optical/UV investigations of BAL to non-BAL quasar transformations

TL;DR

This study investigates the transformation of quasars from BAL to non-BAL states using multi-epoch X-ray and optical/UV data, revealing that absorption features can disappear over time, consistent with outflowing material moving out of the line-of-sight.

Contribution

First multi-epoch X-ray and optical/UV analysis of BAL to non-BAL quasar transformations showing absorption disappearance over years.

Findings

BAL features disappeared in all targets since initial detection.

X-ray spectra are consistent with weakened or absent absorption.

Quasar properties align with non-BAL characteristics after transformation.

Abstract

We report on an X-ray and optical/UV study of eight Broad Absorption Line (BAL) to non-BAL transforming quasars at $z\,\approx\,$1.7-2.2 over 0.29-4.95 rest-frame years with at least three spectroscopic epochs for each quasar from the SDSS, BOSS, $Gemini$, and ARC 3.5-m telescopes. New $Chandra$ observations obtained for these objects show their values of $\alpha_{\rm ox}$ and $\Delta{\alpha}_{\rm ox}$, as well as their spectral energy distributions, are consistent with those of non-BAL quasars. Moreover, our targets have X-ray spectral shapes that are, on average, consistent with weakened absorption with an effective power-law photon index of $\Gamma_{\rm eff}\,=\,1.69^{+0.25}_{-0.25}$. The newer $Gemini$ and ARC 3.5-m spectra reveal that the BAL troughs have remained absent since the BOSS observations where the BAL disappearance was discovered. The X-ray and optical/UV results in tandem are consistent with at least the X-ray absorbing material moving out of the line-of-sight, leaving an X-ray unabsorbed non-BAL quasar. The UV absorber might have become more highly ionized (in a shielding-gas scenario) or also moved out of the line-of-sight (in a wind-clumping scenario).