The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273

Details The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273 The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273

2001-09-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0109242v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of the Meeting on Gaseous Matter in Galactic and Intergalactic Space, XVIIth IAP Colloqu

Scientific paper

We present a preliminary study of the metallicity of low-redshift Lyman alpha absorbers from the HST/STIS spectrum of 3C273. Using a pixel-based shift-and-coadd technique, we compare observations to carefully-constructed mock quasar spectra from a cosmological hydrodynamic simulation. We place an upper limit of [C/H]<-1.5 at >90% confidence using two Ly-alpha absorbers with N_HI>10^14 cm^-2, from the fact that we see little absorption near the expected CIV positions, whereas the artificial spectra predict significant absorption. We assume a Haardt & Madau (quasar-based) ionizing background spectrum, but a softer spectrum results in a stronger constraint on the metallicity. With only two absorbers and various modeling uncertainties, it is too early to make a definitive determination of the diffuse IGM metallicity, but upcoming observations should improve constraints.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273 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 The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Metallicity of the Local IGM from the HST/STIS Spectrum of 3C273 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-132044