Metallicity and Quasar Outflows

Details Metallicity and Quasar Outflows Metallicity and Quasar Outflows

2012-04-23

arxiv.org/abs/1204.5234v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics

13 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

Correlations are investigated of the outflow strength of quasars, as measured by the blueshift and asymmetry index (BAI) of the CIV line (Wang et al. 2011), with intensities and ratios of broad emission lines, based on composite quasar spectra built from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We find that most of the line ratios of other ions to CIV prominently increases with BAI. These behaviors can be well understood in the context of increasing metallicity with BAI. The strength of dominant coolant, CIV line, decreases and weak collisionally excited lines increase with gas metallicity as a result of the competition between different line coolants. Using SiIV+OIV]/CIV as an indicator of gas metallicity, we present, for the first time, a strong correlation between the metallicitiy and the outflow strength of quasars over a wide range of 1.7 to 6.9 times solar abundance. Our result implies that the metallicity plays an important role in the formation of quasar outflows, likely via affecting outflow acceleration. This effect may have a profound impact on galaxy evolution via momentum feedback and chemical enrichment.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Metallicity and Quasar Outflows does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Metallicity and Quasar Outflows, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Metallicity and Quasar Outflows will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-518561