Subaru high resolution spectroscopy of complex metal absorption lines of QSO HS1603+3820

Abstract

We present a high resolution spectrum of the quasar, HS1603+3820 (z_em=2.542), observed with the High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS) on Subaru Telescope. This quasar, first discovered in the Hamburg/CfA Quasar Survey, has 11 C IV lines at 1.96 < z_abs < 2.55. Our spectrum covers 8 of the 11 C IV lines at z_abs > 2.29 and resolves some of them into multiple narrow components with b < 25 km/s because of the high spectral resolution R=45000, while other lines show broad profiles (b > 65 km/s). We use three properties of C IV lines, specifically, time variability, covering factor, and absorption line profile, to classify them into quasar intrinsic absorption lines (QIALs) and spatially intervening absorption lines (SIALs). The C IV lines at 2.42 < z_abs < 2.45 are classified as QIALs in spite of their large velocity shifts from the quasar. Perhaps they are produced by gas clouds ejected from the quasar with the velocity of v_ej = 8000 km/s -- 10000 km/s. On the other hand, three C IV lines at 2.48 < z_abs < 2.55 are classified as SIALs, which suggests there exist intervening absorbers near the quasar. We, however, cannot rule out QIALs for the two lines at z_abs ~ 2.54 and 2.55, because their velocity shifts, 430 km/s blueward and 950 km/s redward of the quasar, are very small. The C IV line at z_abs ~ 2.48 consists of many narrow components, and has also corresponding low-ionization metal lines (Al II, Si II, and Fe II). The velocity distribution of these low-ionization ions is concentrated at the center of the system compared to that of high-ionization C IV ion. Therefore we ascribe this system of absorption lines to an intervening galaxy.

arXiv comment35 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

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• Results of Monitoring the Dramatically Variable C IV Mini-BAL System in the Quasar HS 1603+3820
• Time-Variable Complex Metal Absorption Lines in the Quasar HS1603+3820
• Monitoring the Variability of Intrinsic Absorption Lines in Quasar Spectra
• An Intrinsic Absorption Complex Toward RXJ1230.8+0115: Geometry and Photoionization Conditions
• High-Resolution Absorption Spectroscopy of Multi-phase, High-Metallicity Gas Associated with the Luminous Quasar HE 0226-4110
• Exploratory Study of the X-Ray Properties of Quasars With Intrinsic Narrow Absorption Lines
• Unshifted Metastable He I* Mini-Broad Absorption Line System in the Narrow Line Type 1 Quasar SDSS J080248.18$+$551328.9
• Disappearance of a narrow Mg II absorption system with a measured velocity up to $166,000km{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$
• Absorption features in the quasar HS 1603+3820 II. Distance to the absorber from photoionisation modelling
• H I gas in higher density regions of the intergalactic medium
• A Spectropolarimetric Test of the Structure of the Intrinsic Absorbers in the Quasar HS1603+3820
• Nature and Origins of Rich Complexes of C IV Associated Absorption Lines
• Absorption spectrum of the quasar HS1603+3820 I. Observations and data analysis