Composite HST Spectrum of Quasars

For the full sample the power-law index in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) between 350 and 1050A is {alpha}=-1.96+/-0.15. For the radio-loud subsample (60 objects), the EUV spectral index is {alpha}~=-2.2, while for the radio-quiet subsample (41 objects) it is {alpha}~=-1.8. The continuum flux in the wavelengths near the Lyman limit shows a depression of ~10%.

The break in the power-law index and the slight depression of the continuum near the Lyman limit are features expected in Comptonized accretion-disk spectra. Comptonization produces a power-law tail in the wavelength band shortward of 1000A and smears out the Lyman-limit edge of the intrinsic accretion-disk spectrum. In the EUV waveband, we detect several possible emission features, including one around 690A that may be O III + N III produced by the Bowen fluorescence effect.

Comparing our composite spectrum with one made at higher redshifts by Francis et al. (1991ApJ...373..465F), we find that the equivalent widths of Ly{alpha} and high-ionization emission lines are larger in our sample, reflecting a known luminosity dependence. The equivalent widths of low-ionization lines do not exhibit such a dependence, suggesting that the quasar EUV continuum above ~50eV is steeper at higher luminosity.

Radio-quiet quasars appear to show a slightly harder continuum and lower ionization levels in their emission lines.