Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-07-13
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
16 pages, 12 figures, Accepted to MNRAS, July 2010
Scientific paper
We discuss the nature and origin of a rich complex of narrow absorption lines in the quasar J102325.31+514251.0 at redshift 3.447. We measure nine C IV(\lambda1548,1551) absorption line systems with velocities from -1400 to -6200 km/s, and full widths at half minimum ranging from 16 to 350 km/s. We also detect other absorption lines in these systems, including H I, C III, N V, O VI, and Si IV. Lower ionisation lines are not present, indicating a generally high degree of ionisation in all nine systems. The total hydrogen column densities range from <=10^{17.2} to 10^{19.1}cm^{-2}. We examine several diagnostics to estimate more directly the location and origin of each absorber. Four of the systems can be attributed to a quasar-driven outflow based on line profiles that are smooth and broad compared to thermal line widths. Several systems also have other indicators of a quasar outflow origin, including partial covering. Altogether there is direct evidence for 6 of the 9 systems forming in a quasar outflow. Consistent with a near-quasar origin, eight of the systems have metallicity values or lower limits in the range Z >= 1-8 Z_{sun}. The lowest velocity system, which has an ambiguous location, also has the lowest metallicity, Z <= 0.3 Z_{sun}, and might form in a non-outflow environment farther from the quasar. Overall, however, this complex of narrow absorption lines can be identified with a highly structured, multi-component outflow from the quasar. The high metallicities are similar to those derived for other quasars at similar redshifts and luminosities, and are consistent with evolution scenarios wherein quasars appear after the main episodes of star formation and metal enrichment in the host galaxies.
Hamann Fred
Simon Leah E.
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