Variability of QSOs with variable regions in broad absorption troughs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Abstract

The variability of broad absorption lines (BALs) is investigated for a sample of 188 BAL quasars (QSOs) (z > 1.7) with at least two epoch observations from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7, covering a time-scale of about 0.001-3 yr in the rest frame. Considering only the longest time-scale between epochs for each QSO, 73 variable regions in the C IV BAL troughs are detected for 43 BAL QSOs. The proportion of BAL QSOs showing variable regions increases with longer time-interval than about 1 yr in the rest frame. The velocity width of variable regions is narrow compared to the BAL-trough outflow velocity. For 43 BAL QSOs with variable regions, it is found that there is a medium strong correlation between the variation of the continuum luminosity at 1500 Å and the variation of the spectral index. With respect to the total 188 QSOs, a larger proportion of BAL QSOs with variable regions appears bluer during their brighter phases, which implies that the origin of BAL variable regions is related to the central accretion process. For 43 BAL QSOs with variable regions, it is possible that there is a negative medium strong correlation between the absolute variation of the equivalent width and the Mg II-based black hole mass, and a medium strong correlation between the maximum outflow velocity of variable regions and the Eddington ratio. These results imply a connection between the BAL-trough variation and the central accretion process.