Quasar Superunification and the Man Behind the Curtain

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AST-0507781BrothertonThis project will study how the wide range of observable quasar properties that give us the "zoo" of active galactic nuclei may be explained in terms of their fundamental physical characteristics. This includes a quantitative and empirical investigation of how the observational traits vary as a function of the physical parameters (mass, accretion rate, and so on), the calculation of spectral energy distributions (particularly for high-redshift quasars), and some consideration of rare quasar classes that can illustrate extreme physics or over-looked evolutionary phases. The principal sample will be that of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, supplemented by other archival data and new observations where appropriate.The variety of quasar catalogs to be created will be of value to the wider astronomical community, and their development will train both graduate and undergraduate students. Educational and outreach efforts will focus upon how science fiction can be used to promote science to new and larger audiences, including resource material of value to teachers for years to come, and will include presentations at the NSF-supported Wyoming astronomy camp for high schools.