Supermassive Black Hole Binary Candidates from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 884; no. 1; pp. 36 - 54
• Main Authors: Liu, T., Gezari, S., Ayers, M., Burgett, W., Chambers, K., Hodapp, K., Huber, M. E., Kudritzki, R.-P., Metcalfe, N., Tonry, J., Wainscoat, R., Waters, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 10.10.2019; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Candidates; Maximum likelihood method; Quasars; Random walk; Sky surveys (astronomy); Supermassive black holes; Surveys
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ab40cb

We present a systematic search for periodically varying quasar and supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) candidates in the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey (MDS). From ∼9000 color-selected quasars in an ∼50 °2 sky area, we initially identify 26 candidates with more than 1.5 cycles of variation. We extend the baseline of observations via our imaging campaign with the Discovery Channel Telescope and the Las Cumbres Observatory network and reevaluate the candidates using a more rigorous, maximum likelihood method. Using a range of statistical criteria and assuming the damped random walk model for normal quasar variability, we identify one statistically significant periodic candidate. We also investigate the capabilities of detecting SMBHBs with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope using our study with MDS as a benchmark and explore any complementary multiwavelength evidence for SMBHBs in our sample.