Weak Line Quasars at High Redshift: Extremely High Accretion Rate SourcesquestionMark

The broad C IV emission lines in weak line quasars (WLQs) are significantlyweaker than expected from the anticorrelation between C IV equivalent width andthe Hbetabased Eddington ratio. This discrepancy may be reconciled if theEddington ratios of WLQs are higher than those indicated by Hbeta. We aim totest this hypothesis by measuring the hardXray photon index in all WLQs withHbeta measurements thus obtaining robust determinations of their accretionrates. Steep spectral slopes will indicate that high accretion rates areresponsible for the line weakness in WLQs. Otherwise, additional parameters maycontrol broad emission line equivalent widths. The results will yield crucialinsights about the accretion process and broad emission line formation in all active galactic nuclei. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]