Sloan Digital Sky Survey Broad Absorption Line Quasars Catalog: 3rd Data Release

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Broad Absorption Line (BAL) Quasars Catalog (based on the 3rd SDSS Data Release) contains a total of 4784 unique BAL quasars from the SDSS DR3 (<a href="cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/ftp/cats/VII/243">CDS Cat. <VII/243></a>). An automated algorithm was used to match a continuum to each quasar and to identify regions of flux at least 10% below the continuum over a velocity range of at least 1000 km/s in the C IV and Mg II absorption regions.

The model continuum was selected as the best-fit match from a set of template quasar spectra binned in luminosity, emission line width, and redshift z, with the power-law spectral index and amount of dust reddening as additional free parameters. The authors characterize their sample through the traditional 'balnicity' index BI and a revised absorption index AI, as well as through parameters such as the width, outflow velocity, fractional depth, and number of troughs.