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Supermassive Black Hole Binary Candidates from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey

Liu, T.; Gezari, S.; Ayers, M.; Burgett, W.; Chambers, K.; Hodapp, K.; Huber, M.E.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Metcalfe, N.; Tonry, J.; Wainscoat, R.; Waters, C.

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Authors

T. Liu

S. Gezari

M. Ayers

W. Burgett

K. Chambers

K. Hodapp

M.E. Huber

R.-P. Kudritzki

J. Tonry

R. Wainscoat

C. Waters



Abstract

We present a systematic search for periodically varying quasar and supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) candidates in the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey (MDS). From ~9000 color-selected quasars in an ~50 °2 sky area, we initially identify 26 candidates with more than 1.5 cycles of variation. We extend the baseline of observations via our imaging campaign with the Discovery Channel Telescope and the Las Cumbres Observatory network and reevaluate the candidates using a more rigorous, maximum likelihood method. Using a range of statistical criteria and assuming the damped random walk model for normal quasar variability, we identify one statistically significant periodic candidate. We also investigate the capabilities of detecting SMBHBs with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope using our study with MDS as a benchmark and explore any complementary multiwavelength evidence for SMBHBs in our sample.

Citation

Liu, T., Gezari, S., Ayers, M., Burgett, W., Chambers, K., Hodapp, K., …Waters, C. (2019). Supermassive Black Hole Binary Candidates from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. Astrophysical Journal, 884(1), Article 36. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab40cb

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 29, 2019
Online Publication Date Oct 11, 2019
Publication Date Oct 10, 2019
Deposit Date Dec 11, 2019
Publicly Available Date Dec 11, 2019
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 884
Issue 1
Article Number 36
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab40cb

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Copyright Statement
© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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