The US and Other Optically Selected Bright QSO Samples

BLR velocities in optically and X - ray selected AGN samples

We have analyzed optical spectra of 473 X-ray and 235 optically selected AGNs, to study their emission line properties. We present results of an analysis of the Hβ linewidths. We find that the linewidth distribution of quasars is shifted towards higher velocities (=4300 km s) compared to the distribution of Sy 1s (=3000 km s). There are no Narrow Line Quasars, i.e. there are no AGNs with ...

A new twist to an old story: HE 0450-2958, and the ULIRG→(optically bright QSO) transition hypothesis

We report on interferometric imaging of the CO J=1–0 and J=3–2 line emission from the controversial QSO/galaxy pair HE0450–2958. The detected CO J=1–0 line emission is found associated with the disturbed companion galaxy not the luminous QSO, and implies Mgal(H2) ∼ (1− 2)× 10M⊙, which is > ∼ 30% of the dynamical mass in its CO-luminous region. Fueled by this large gas reservoir this galaxy is t...

The bright end of the QSO luminosity function

We have analysed the optical luminosity-redshift distribution properties of bright QSOs, using a new large sample from the Hamburg/ESO survey. The sample provides insight into the hitherto poorly sampled bright tail of the luminosity function, allowing to monitor its evolution with redshift up to z ≈ 3. The slope increases significantly towards higher z, inconsistent with the predictions of pur...

Optically identified QSO absorption systems and galaxy evolution

A comprehensive set of all available magnitudes, colors and redshifts for optically identified QSO absorbers is compiled from the literature. This results in a largely unbiased sample of galaxies at high redshifts, the size of the sample being reasonably large to allow for a first comparison with galaxy evolution models. We use our evolutionary spectral synthesis models describing various spect...

The Qso Evolution Derived from the Hbqs and Other Complete Qso Surveys