Quasar redshift distribution and selection effects

With the Hewitt-Burbidge catalogue of quasars as our sample, separately for 3 sets of respectively 7, 11, and 13 spectral lines as the “key lines” in the identification of quasar redshifts, we derive the redshift distribution arising from the identification of the lines. A comparison between the calculated and observed distributions shows that 1) the two are clearly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.56. 2) Similar peaks are present in both in the z-intervals 0.2 – 0.4, 0.8 – 0.9, 1.4 – 1.5, and particularly around 1.95, as well similar valleys at 0.1 and 1.5 – 1.8. 3) Both rise or fall together at z = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.8, 1.9, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7. It thus appears that selection effects play an important role in the redshift distribution of the quasars.