2019/06/30 by T. Liu, Tingting Liu, S. Gezari +17
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics #Binary black hole #Binary number #Blazar #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Gamma ray #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Gravitational wave #Observatory #Physics #Quasar #Sky #Supermassive black hole #Telescope #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab40cb
Accepted to ApJ. 26 pages, 12 figures, 11 tables, 2 appendices
arxiv created 2019/09/25 · openalex publication_date 2019/10/10 · arxiv updated 2019/10/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
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.