Finding and Analyzing FeLoBAL Quasars in DESI

FeLoBALs are a rare class of quasars that exhibit unusually strong broad absorption from singly- and doubly-ionized iron in their rest-frame ultraviolet spectrum. The existence of strong iron absorption is generally unexpected, raising many questions about the underlying physical conditions and mechanisms that lead to the presence of iron ions in the regions surrounding the quasar. However, this distinctive property is incredibly rare among quasars, showing up in less than 0.5% of observed objects. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Data Release 1, which includes more than 15 million unique extragalactic spectra, we visually inspect over 1400 pre-selected quasar spectra looking for FeLoBALs. We identify 57 objects, significantly increasing the number of spectroscopically confirmed FeLoBALs to date. We present the demographic distributions of the sample and present a preliminary analysis of their dust content relative to more typical classes of quasars.