IR spectra and photometry of z<0.5 quasars

As a step toward a comprehensive overview of the infrared (IR) diagnostics of the central engines and host galaxies of quasars at low redshift, we present Spitzer Space Telescope spectroscopic (5-40{mu}m) and photometric (24, 70, and 160{mu}m) measurements of all Palomar-Green (PG) quasars at z<0.5 and Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) quasars at z<0.3. We supplement these data with Herschel measurements at 160{mu}m. The sample is composed of 87 optically selected PG quasars and 52 near-IR-selected 2MASS quasars.

Here we present the data, measure the prominent spectral features, and separate emission due to star formation from that emitted by the dusty circumnuclear torus. We find that the mid-IR (5-30{mu}m) spectral shape for the torus is largely independent of quasar IR luminosity with scatter in the spectral energy distribution (SED) shape of <~0.2dex. Except for the silicate features, no large difference is observed between PG (unobscured --silicate emission) and 2MASS (obscured --silicate absorption) quasars.