Redshift distributions of quasars with highly blue and highly red spectra obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Database

Abstract

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Database is used to determine the redshift distribution of highly blue and highly red quasars for 1000 and 2877 separate samples of each quasar type. Only measured redshifts which are more than 95% accurate are obtained. The resulting distribution plot for each quasar type shows distinct localizations in the range of redshifts for which they can be found. What is remarkable is that the distributions in redshifts of highly blue and highly red quasars follow a recognizable pattern, in the sense that there exist ranges for which both quasar types may be found together as well as ranges for which only highly blue or highly red quasars may be found. Furthermore, the search for 2877 highly blue quasars in the SDSS database reveals the existence of an unusual, extremely red quasar at a redshift of 1.846. This deviant quasar will be subject to further studies in the future.