Luminosity Indicators in the Spectra of Quasi-Stellar Objects

Abstract

Spectrophotometric observations were made of 20 quasi-stellar objects having redshifts in the range z = 1.243.53. Continuum luminosities were calculated on the assumption that the redshifts are cosmological, and several features of the emission lines were tested as possible luminosity indicators. A strong correlation is found between the continuum luminosities and the equivalent widths of the emission lines, but it is not clear to what extent this may be a selection effect. Subject heading: quasars