The X-ray properties of the most luminous quasars with strong emission-line outflows

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Abstract
Context. Strong outflows from active galactic nuclei are frequently observed in objects with lower coronal X-ray luminosity. This intrinsic X-ray weakness is considered a requirement for the formation of radiatively driven winds. Aims. To obtain an unbiased view on the connection between X-ray emission and the presence of powerful winds in the most luminous quasar phase, we present an X-ray analysis of a sample of extremely luminous, radio-quiet quasars with signatures of strong outflows in their rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) emission spectra. Methods. We study the Chandra X-ray spectral properties of 10 objects, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 16 quasar catalogue based on their UV luminosities and C IV emission line blueshifts, comparing them to typical optically blue quasars. Results. Our analysis reveals that seven out of 10 quasars in our sample have photon indices Γ > 1.7. Only two out of 10 objects exhibiting outflows with velocities exceeding 1400 km/s are X-ray ‘weak’, consistent with the fraction of X-ray ‘weak’ objects generally observed in quasar populations. Notably, one of the objects identified as X-ray ‘weak’ is likely an intrinsically X-ray ‘normal’ quasar that is heavily obscured. We observe a tentative indication at a ∼2 σ confidence level that the correlation between the excessively low X-ray flux level and the presence of C IV emission-line outflows might emerge at wind velocities greater than 3000 km/s. Conclusions. Our study provides additional evidence that the relationship between X-ray emission and the presence of winds is intricate. Our findings emphasise the need for X-ray observations of a larger sample of UV-selected quasars with confirmed strong emission-line outflows to unravel the nuanced interplay between winds and X-ray emission.
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Funding Information
  • Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (21221788)
  • HE ERC Starting (101040227)
  • UKRI (ST/X001075/1)
  • Millennium Science Initiative (AIM23-0001)
  • Millennium Science Initiative (ICN12_009)
  • CATA-Basal (FB210003)
  • FONDECYT (1241005)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (GO4-25074X)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (AR1-22010X)
  • National Aeronautics Space Administration (NAS8-03060)
  • NASA (80NSSC24K0719)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (EXC-2094)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (390783311)
  • Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship

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