Journal article

### Constraining the quasar population with the broad-line width distribution

Abstract:

We measure the width of the MgII $\lambda2799$ line in quasar spectra from the SDSS, 2QZ and 2SLAQ surveys and, by invoking an unnormalised virial mass estimator, relate the scatter in line width to the scatter in mass in the underlying black hole population. We find conclusive evidence for a trend such that there is less scatter in line width, and hence black hole mass, in more luminous objects. However, the most luminous objects in our sample show such a low degree of scatter in line widt...

Publication status:
Published

### Authors

Hopkins, PF More by this author
Hernquist, L More by this author
Bland-Hawthorn, J More by this author
Journal:
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.
Volume:
390
Issue:
4
Pages:
1413-1429
Publication date:
2008-07-08
DOI:
EISSN:
1365-2966
ISSN:
0035-8711
URN:
uuid:3cca72bc-d366-4e4b-aed0-d58666b3bcd0
Source identifiers:
6298
Local pid:
pubs:6298
Language:
English
Keywords: