Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Sep 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993a%26a...276..331p&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 276, p. 331.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
24
Scientific paper
We present predictions for the appearance of the high redshift quasar population at far-UV (λ <~ 1500A) wavelengths, with an emphasis on assessing the feasibility of carrying out the HeII λ304A equivalent of the Gunn-Peterson test with HST and FUSE. We assume that the shape of the intrinsic extreme-UV spectra of luminous quasars can be described by a simple power law, and combine the quasar evolution models of Schmidt & Green (1983) and Boyle et al. (1988) with the intervening Lyman continuum absorption model of Moller & Jakobsen (1990) in order to calculate the distribution of quasars in apparent far- UV flux and redshift. We present curves giving the predicted total number of observable quasars on the sky as a function of limiting far-UV sensitivity at received HeII λ304A for the redshift range z > 3 accessible with HST and the range 2 < z <3 accessible with FUSE. The steepness of the quasar luminosity function is enhanced by the effects of intervening Lyman continuum absorption, and leads to the number of observable quasars being strongly dependent on the limiting sensitivity and assumed quasar spectrum. Nonetheless, our analysis suggests that a limiting far-UV spectroscopic sensitivity of Flambda_ ~ 1 x 10^16^ ergs s^-1^ cm^2^ A^-1^ is required in order to be able to observe HeII λ304A absorption in the ~10^2^ brightest quasars at redshifts z > 3. This sensitivity cannot currently be reached with the aberrated HST observatory but may be achievable in the future with the COSTAR and STIS instruments. In the lower redshift range 2 < Z < 3, where redshifted HeII λ304A line is accessible with FUSE, the corresponding sensitivity required to reach the ~10^2^ brightest quasars is Flambda_ ~ 1 x 10^-15^ ergs s^-1^ cm^-2^ A^-1^. This sensitivity is below that expected for the prime spectrographic mode of FUSE, but could be achieved in a low resolution mode
Jakobsen Peter
Picard Alain
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