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.

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