The Power of Exploratory Chandra Observations

Abstract

With its excellent spatial resolution, low background, and hard-band response, the Chandra X-ray Observatory is ideal for performing exploratory surveys. These efficient, sensitive observations can place constraints on fundamental properties of a quasar continuum including the X-ray luminosity, the ratio of X-ray to UV power, and the X-ray spectral shape. To demonstrate the power of such surveys to provide significant insight, we consider two examples, a Large Bright Quasar Survey sample of broad absorption line quasars and a sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasars with extreme CIV blueshifts. In both cases, exploratory Chandra observations provide important information for a physical understanding of UV spectroscopic differences in quasars.

4 pages, 2 figures, requires newpasp.sty. To appear in "AGN Physics with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey", ASP Conference Series, G.T. Richards and P.B. Hall, eds