Luminosity of serendipitous x-ray QSOs

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183726· OSTI ID:5577485

Margon, B; Chanan, G A; Downes, R A

We have identified the optical counterparts of 47 serendipitously discovered Einstein Observatory X-ray sources with previously unreported quasi-stellar objects. The mean ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity of this sample agrees reasonably well with that derived from X-ray observations of previously known QSOs. However, despite the fact that our limiting magnitude V = 18.5 should permit detection of typical QSOs (i.e., M/sub c/ = -26) to z = 0.9, the mean redshift of our sample is only z = 0.42 Thus the mean luminosity of these objects, M/sub c/ = -24, differs significantly from that of previous QSO surveys with similar optical thresholds. The existence of large numbers of these lower luminosity QSOs which are difficult to discover by previous selection techniques, provides observational confirmation of the steep luminosity function inferred indirectly from optical counts. However, possible explanations for the lack of higher luminosity QSOs in our sample prove even more interesting. If one accepts the global value of the X-ray to optical luminosity ratio proposed by Zamorani et al, and Ku, Helfand, and Lucy, then reconciliation of this ratio with our observations severely constrains the QSO space density and luminosity functions. Alternatively, the ''typical'' QSO-a radio quiet, high redshift (z>1), optically luminous but not superluminous (M/sub c/> or =-27) object-may not be a strong X-ray source. This inference is not in conflict with existing results from Einstein X-ray surveys of preselected QSOs, which also fail to detect such objects. The contribution of QSOs to the diffuse X-ray background radiation is therefore highly uncertain, but may be quite small. Current X-ray data probably do not place significant constraints on the optical number counts of faint QSOs.

• Research Organization: Astronomy Department, University of Washington
• OSTI ID: 5577485
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Vol. 253:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
QUASARS
LUMINOSITY
RED SHIFT
VISIBLE RADIATION
X RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
640103* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources- (-1987)