Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1996-09-24
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letters. AASTeX style, includes two Postscript figures. Paper can also be obtained from ht
Scientific paper
10.1086/310370
The increasing availability of high quality spectra of QSO absorption line systems at resolutions of only a few km/s is expected to facilitate the translation of the kinematics of components comprising the lines into the spatial distribution of gas around an absorbing galaxy. In this Letter, we present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectra of Q1219+047, a QSO whose sightline passes 21 h-1 kpc from the center of M61, through the outer regions of an extended H I disk. We detect complex Mg II absorption, spanning a velocity range of approximately 300 km/s, and strong C IV absorption; these are the first UV observations of a QSO absorption line system arising in the outskirts of a disk of a nearby galaxy at low inclination. Our observations are at odds with models of galaxies in which absorbing clouds co-rotate with a galaxy's disk, because M61's low inclination should give rise to only a few Mg II components spread over a small velocity range in such a model. Hence our results throw doubt on whether absorption line profiles can be used to infer the spatial distribution of gas around absorbing galaxies.
Blades Chris J.
Bowen David V.
Pettini Max
No associations
LandOfFree
Complex Mg II absorption in the outer disk of M61 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 Complex Mg II absorption in the outer disk of M61, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Complex Mg II absorption in the outer disk of M61 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-695471