The Origins of a Rich Absorption Line Complex in a Quasar at Redshift 3.45

Abstract

We discuss the nature and origin of a rich complex of narrow absorption lines in the quasar J102325.31+514251.0 at redshift 3.447. We measure nine C IV(\lambda1548,1551) absorption line systems with velocities from -1400 to -6200 km/s, and full widths at half minimum ranging from 16 to 350 km/s. We also detect other absorption lines in these systems, including H I, C III, N V, O VI, and Si IV. Lower ionisation lines are not present, indicating a generally high degree of ionisation in all nine systems. The total hydrogen column densities range from <=10^{17.2} to 10^{19.1}cm^{-2}. We examine several diagnostics to estimate more directly the location and origin of each absorber. Four of the systems can be attributed to a quasar-driven outflow based on line profiles that are smooth and broad compared to thermal line widths. Several systems also have other indicators of a quasar outflow origin, including partial covering. Altogether there is direct evidence for 6 of the 9 systems forming in a quasar outflow. Consistent with a near-quasar origin, eight of the systems have metallicity values or lower limits in the range Z >= 1-8 Z_{sun}. The lowest velocity system, which has an ambiguous location, also has the lowest metallicity, Z <= 0.3 Z_{sun}, and might form in a non-outflow environment farther from the quasar. Overall, however, this complex of narrow absorption lines can be identified with a highly structured, multi-component outflow from the quasar. The high metallicities are similar to those derived for other quasars at similar redshifts and luminosities, and are consistent with evolution scenarios wherein quasars appear after the main episodes of star formation and metal enrichment in the host galaxies.

16 pages, 12 figures, Accepted to MNRAS, July 2010

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• De Re Metallica: The cosmic chemical evolution of galaxies
• Testing Quasar Unification: Radiative Transfer in Clumpy Winds
• A Simple Disk Wind Model for Broad Absorption Line Quasars
• Line-driven radiative outflows in luminous quasars
• Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509. VI. HST/COS observations of the far-ultraviolet spectrum
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• Using the Properties of Broad Absorption Line Quasars to Illuminate Quasar Structure
• A Catalog of High-Velocity CIV Mini-BALs in the VLT-UVES and Keck-HIRES Archives
• On The Fine Tuning and Physical Origin of Line-Locked Absorption Systems in Active Galaxies
• Nature and Origins of Rich Complexes of C IV Associated Absorption Lines