Observational limitations of the Doppler theory of quasars

Abstract

The viability of the hypothesis that the redshift of a quasar is due entirely to the Doppler effect which arises from its high ejection speed in a nearby center of explosion is examined in light of data on the aligned triplets of quasars discovered by Arp and Hazard (1980). In view of a physical association of the quasars in a triplet, the computation of the various parameters of the Doppler problem is illustrated and constraints are placed on quasar ejection scenarios in order to critically examine Holyle's recent (1980) hypothesis that quasars emit the bulk of their radiation in a specified backward cone. It is found that the four triplets provide prima facie evidence for such a hypothesis, and further checks on the Doppler model are suggested. A very small, but nonzero fraction of blueshifted quasars is predicted by the model.