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S20A0041abst

S20A0041

We propose to use Gemini/GMOS-N to spectroscopically confirm the nature of a sample of dual quasar candidates having a projected separation between 7-10 kpc, a rare population. With the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program, we have identified a population of SDSS quasars as having two components with flux ratios within a factor of 10:1. GMOS-N in queue mode is needed to acquire spectra of each component for those with projected separations between 0.8 βˆ’ 1.2β€²\ β€². With the first statistical sample of spectroscopically-confirmed close dual quasars, we will measure their frequency and evolution of such systems up to z∼4 with a comparison to predictions from recent hydrodynamic cosmological simulations. These results will place important constraints on merger simulations of galaxies and their supermassive black holes that are input to an estimate of gravitational wave events to be detected by LISA. Furthermore, there is great scientific potential to develop this technique to find dual SMBHs with large number statistics given the final area coverage of HSC (1000 deg2) and future imaging with LSST.

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