High-redshift Extreme Variability Quasars from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Multi-Epoch Spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study systematically identifies high-redshift extreme variability quasars (EVQs) over 18 years, revealing their similarities to changing-look quasars and analyzing their spectral variability, black hole mass estimates, and physical properties.

Contribution

It provides the first large sample of high-redshift EVQs, demonstrating their connection to low-redshift changing-look quasars and analyzing their spectral and physical variability mechanisms.

Findings

348 EVQs identified with >100% variability

23 EVQs show emission line disappearance, akin to CLQs

Extreme variability introduces ~0.3 dex scatter in black hole mass estimates

Abstract

We perform a systematic search for high-redshift ($z >$ 1.5) extreme variability quasars (EVQs) using repeat spectra from the Sixteenth Data Release of Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which provides a baseline spanning up to $\sim$18 yrs in the observed frame. We compile a sample of 348 EVQs with a maximum continuum variability at rest frame 1450 Angstrom of more than 100% (i.e., $\delta$V $\equiv$ (Max$-$Min)/Mean $>$1). The EVQs show a range of emission line variability, including 23 where at least one line in our redshift range disappears below detectability, which can then be seen as analogous to low-redshift changing-look quasars (CLQs)". Importantly, spurious CLQs caused by SDSS problematic spectral flux calibration, e.g., fiber drop issue, have been rejected. The similar properties (e.g., continuum/line, difference-composite spectra and Eddington ratio) of normal EVQs and CLQs, implies that they are basically the same physical population with analogous intrinsic variability mechanisms, as a tail of a continuous distribution of normal quasar properties. In addition, we find no reliable evidence ($\lesssim$ 1$\sigma$) to support that the CLQs are a subset of EVQs with less efficient accretion. Finally, we also confirm the anti-breathing of C IV (i.e., line width increases as luminosity increases) in EVQs, and find that in addition to $\sim$ 0.4 dex systematic uncertainty in single-epoch C IV virial black hole mass estimates, an extra scatter of $\sim$ 0.3 dex will be introduced by extreme variability.