Exploring the link between C IV outflow kinematics and sublimation-temperature dust in quasars

TL;DR

This study reveals a correlation between high-temperature dust emission and C IV outflow blueshifts in quasars, indicating a link between broad emission line region properties and dusty regions near the nucleus.

Contribution

It demonstrates a connection between sublimation-temperature dust covering fraction and C IV outflow kinematics in quasars, using multi-wavelength data analysis.

Findings

Hot dust emission correlates with C IV blueshift magnitude.

Objects with stronger outflows have larger hot dust covering fractions.

Hot dust covering fraction is independent of luminosity, black hole mass, or Eddington ratio.

Abstract

Using data from SDSS, UKIDSS and WISE, we investigate the properties of the high-frequency cutoff to the infrared emission in $\simeq$5000 carefully selected luminous ($L_{bol} \simeq 10^{47}$) type 1 quasars. The strength of $\simeq$2 $\mu$m emission, corresponding to emission from the hottest (T>1200K) dust in the sublimation zone surrounding the central continuum source, is observed to correlate with the blueshift of the C IV $\lambda$1550 emission line. We therefore find that objects with stronger signatures of nuclear outflows tend to have a larger covering fraction of sublimation-temperature dust. When controlling for the observed outflow strength, the hot dust covering fraction does not vary significantly across our sample as a function of luminosity, black hole mass or Eddington fraction. The correlation between the hot dust and the C IV line blueshifts, together with the lack of correlation between the hot dust and other parameters, therefore provides evidence of a link between the properties of the broad emission line region and the infrared-emitting dusty regions in quasars.