Abstract
We study quasar clustering on small scales, modeling clustering amplitudes using halo-driven dark matter descriptions. From 91 pairs on scales <35 h-1 kpc, we detect only a slight excess in quasar clustering over our best-fit large-scale model. Integrated across all redshifts, the implied quasar bias is bQ = 4.21 ± 0.98 (bQ = 3.93 ± 0.71) at ∼18h-1 kpc (∼28 h-1 kpc). Our best-fit (real space) power index is ∼-2 [i.e., ξ(r) ∝ r-2], implying steeper halo profiles than currently found in simulations. Alternatively, quasar binaries with separation <35 h-1 kpc may trace merging galaxies, with typical dynamical merger times td ∼ (610 ± 260)m -1/2 h-1 Myr, for quasars of host halo mass m × 1012h-1 M⊙. We find that UV-excess quasars at ∼28 h-1 kpc cluster >5 times higher at z > 2 than at z < 2, at the 2.0 σ level. However, as the space density of quasars declines as z increases, an excess of quasar binaries (over expectation) at z > 2 could be consistent with reduced merger rates at z > 2 for the galaxies forming UV-excess quasars. Comparing our clustering at ∼28 h -1 kpc to a ξ(r) = (r/4.8 h-1 Mpc)-1.53 power law, we find an upper limit on any excess of a factor of 4.3 ± 1.3, which, noting some caveats, differs from large excesses recently measured for binary quasars, at 2.2 σ. We speculate that binary quasar surveys that are biased to z > 2 may find inflated clustering excesses when compared to models fit at z < 2. We provide details of 111 photometrically classified quasar pairs with separations <0.1′. Spectroscopy of these pairs could significantly constrain quasar dynamics in merging galaxies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 99-106 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 658 |
Issue number | 1 I |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 20 2007 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- Cosmology: observations
- Large-scale structure of universe
- Quasars: general
- Surveys