Composite Spectral Energy Distributions and Infrared-Optical Colors of
  Type 1 and Type 2 Quasars
  We present observed mid-infrared and optical colors and composite spectral
energy distributions (SEDs) of type 1 (broad-line) and 2 (narrow-line) quasars
selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopy. A significant
fraction of powerful quasars are obscured by dust, and are difficult to detect
in optical photometric or spectroscopic surveys. However these may be more
easily identified on the basis of mid-infrared (MIR) colors and SEDs. Using
samples of SDSS type 1 type 2 matched in redshift and [OIII] luminosity, we
produce composite rest-frame 0.2-15 micron SEDs based on SDSS, UKIDSS, and
Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) photometry and perform model fits
using simple galaxy and quasar SED templates. The SEDs of type 1 and 2 quasars
are remarkably similar, with the differences explained primarily by the
extinction of the quasar component in the type 2 systems. For both types of
quasar, the flux of the AGN relative to the host galaxy increases with AGN
luminosity (L_[OIII]) and redder observed MIR color, but we find only weak
dependencies of the composite SEDs on mechanical jet power as determined
through radio luminosity. We conclude that luminous quasars can be effectively
selected using simple MIR color criteria similar to those identified previously
(W1-W2 > 0.7 [Vega]), although these criteria miss many heavily obscured
objects. Obscured quasars can be further identified based on optical-IR colors
(for example, (u-W3 [AB]) > 1.4(W1-W2 [Vega])+3.2). These results illustrate
the power of large statistical studies of obscured quasars selected on the
basis of mid-IR and optical photometry.
