2003/08/15 by Rajib Ganguly, Joseph Masiero, Jane C. Charlton +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Absorption (acoustics) #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Context (archaeology) #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Photoionization #Quasar #Redshift #Spectral line #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/379057
published as Astrophys.J.598:922-934,2003 · 16 pages using emulateapj latex document class, including 6 color figures, to appear in ApJ v598 n2
arxiv created 2003/08/15 · openalex publication_date 2003/12/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
We present Hubble Space Telescope /Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer spectra of the quasar RX J1230.8+0115 ( V = 14.4, z = 0.117). In addition to Galactic, Virgo, and intervening absorption, this quasar is host to a remarkable intrinsic absorption complex. Four narrow absorption line systems, strong in C IV, N V, and O VI, lie within 5000 km s -1 of the QSO redshift. Three of the systems appear to be line locked, two in N V and two in O VI, with the common system residing in between the other two (in velocity). All three systems show signs of an intrinsic origin—smooth windlike profiles, high ionization, and partial coverage of the central engine. The fourth system, which appears at the systemic redshift of the QSO, may originate from host galaxy or intervening gas. Photoionization analyses imply column densities in the range 19.1 < log N (H) < 21 and ionization parameters in the range -1.3 < log U < 0.3. Revisiting the issue of line locking, we discuss a possible model in the context of the accretion disk/wind scenario and point out several issues that remain for future simulations and observations.