Other
Scientific paper
Feb 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998aj....115..451s&link_type=abstract
Astronomical Journal, vol. 115, p. 451
Other
1
Hubble Space Telescope, Red Shift, Bl Lacertae Objects, Faint Objects, Charge Coupled Devices, Lyman Spectra
Scientific paper
We present HST Faint Object Spectrograph spectra of the blazar 3C 279 obtained during two recent optical outbursts of this source, maximizing the sensitivity to weak foreground absorption systems at FUV wavelengths for this sight line. Eighteen absorption systems were detected above an observed 3 sigma limiting equivalent width of about 0.3 A. These systems include an unusual, partially thick Lyman limit + C IV + Mg II system at z(abs) = 0.395. In retrospect, this Lyman limit system was detected in the cumulative IUE SWP scan of 3C 279 but was not noted previously. The column density, redshift, location of the sight line 20/h kpc above the plane of an edge-on spiral galaxy, and apparent lack of velocity structure at 1 A resolution make this system an ideal candidate for a low-z measurement of the cosmic abundance of deuterium relative to hydrogen. Amazingly, this absorption system in 3C 279 (1253-055) differs by less than 100 km/s from the velocity of a known metal line/21 cm absorber in another quasar, PKS 1229-021 almost 7 deg away on the sky. The 3C 279 sight line also contains a time-variable absorber intrinsic to 3C 279 and a clump of four absorbers at z = 0.133-0.138. The 1996 epoch spectra, which immediately preceded a large flare at gamma- and X-ray energies, showed the line flux of Ly-alpha and N V emission in 3C 279 to be unchanged compared with an earlier epoch, despite a factor of four increase in the continuum emission level.
Blades Chris J.
Harvanek Michael
Neely William A.
Penton Steve
Stocke John T.
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