Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium

Details Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium

2005-01-25

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0501543v1

Astrophys.J. 623 (2005) L97-L100

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages emulateapj, submitted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/430142

We use the observed number and column-density distributions of intergalactic O VI absorbers to constrain the distribution of metals in the low-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM). In this simple model the metals in the O VI absorbers are assumed to be produced in and propagated from low-redshift galaxies drawn from a real sample, in this case the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). This model can explain the observed dN/dz of metals seen in O VI absorbers if these metals are dispersed out to ~ 200 kpc by galaxies down to L \~ 0.01 - 0.1 L_r^*. Massive galaxies (L ~ L_r^*) by themselves cannot provide the necessary enrichment unless they can enrich volumes out to $\gtrsim 0.5 - 1 Mpc. Alternatively, our model allows an estimate of the fraction of O VI absorbers directly caused by galaxies rather than hot IGM. With this assumption we explore the possible connections between the intergalactic O VI absorbers and the known populations of highly-ionized high-velocity clouds (HVCs) surrounding the Milky Way. Our model predicts that more sensitive, complete surveys optimized to uncover weaker O VI absorbers will find the tentative turnover below log N(O VI) ~ 13.5 to be a real effect resulting from the apparently limited volumes over which galaxies can enrich the IGM. If so, it would indicate that metals are not as widespread throughout the low-density IGM as they are assumed to be in cosmological simulations of the WHIM.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium 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 Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hot Baryons and the Distribution of Metals in the Intergalactic Medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-512891