Sofia Kirhakos

Low- and High-Ionization Absorption Properties of Mg II Absorption-selected Galaxies at Intermediate Redshifts. II. Taxonomy, Kinematics, and Galaxies* **

We examine a sample of 45 Mg II absorption-selected systems over the redshift range 0.4-1.4 in order to better understand the range of physical conditions present in the interstellar and halo gas associated with intermediate redshift galaxies. Mg II and Fe II absorption profiles were observed at a resolution of 6 km s-1 with HIRES/Keck. Lyα and C IV data were measured in FOS spectra obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope archive (resolution 230 km s-1). We perform a multivariate analysis of Wr(Mg II), Wr(Fe II), Wr(C IV), and Wr(Lyα) (rest-frame equivalent widths) and the Mg II kinematic spread. There is a large range of high- to low-ionization properties and kinematics in intermediate-redshift absorbers, that we find can be organized into five categories: classic, C IV-deficient, single/weak, double, and damped Lyα/H I-rich. These categories arise, in part, because there is a strong connection between low-ionization kinematics and the location of an absorber on the Wr(C IV)-Wr(Mg II) plane. Using photoionization modeling, we infer that in most absorbers a significant fraction of the C IV arises in a phase separate from that giving rise to the Mg II. We show that many of the C IV profiles are resolved in the FOS spectra because of the velocity structure in the C IV gas. For 16 systems, the galaxy MK, MB, B-K, and impact parameters are measured. We compare the available absorption-line properties (taken from Paper I) to the galaxy properties but find no significant (greater than 3 σ) correlations, although several suggestive trends are apparent. We compare the locations of our intermediate redshift absorbers on the Wr(C IV)-Wr(Mg II) plane with those of lower and higher redshift data taken from the literature and find evidence for evolution that is connected with the Mg II kinematics seen in HIRES/Keck profiles of Mg II at z > 1.4. We discuss the potential of using the above categorizations of absorbers to understand the evolution in the underlying physical processes giving rise to the gas and governing its ionization phases and kinematics. We also discuss how the observed absorbing gas evolution has interesting parallels with scenarios of galaxy evolution in which mergers and the accretion of protogalactic clumps govern the gas physics and provide reservoirs for elevated star formation rates at high redshift. At intermediate and lower redshifts, the galaxy gaseous components and star formation rates may become interdependent and self-regulatory such that, at z ≤ 1, the kinematics and balance of high- and low-ionization gas may be related to the presence of star-forming regions in the host galaxy.

Low and high ionization absorption properties of mg II absorption-selected galaxies at intermediate redshifts. I. general properties

We present extensive metal-line absorption properties for 45 absorption systems that were selected by their Mg II absorption at redshifts between 0.4 and 1.4. For each system the properties of several chemical species are determined, including a wide range of ionization conditions. In the optical, the absorption systems have been observed at ~6 km s-1 resolution with HIRES/Keck, which covered Mg II, several Fe II transitions, Mg I, and in some cases (depending upon redshift) Ca II, Ti II, Mn II, and Al III. Ultraviolet, lower resolution (~230 km s-1) Faint Object Spectrograph data (1600-3275 ?) were obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope archive. These spectra covered Al II, Al III, Si II, Si III, Si IV, C II, C III, C IV, N V, O VI, and several Lyman series transitions, with coverage dependent upon the absorption system redshift. From these data, we infer that Mg II-absorbing galaxies at intermediate redshifts have multiphase gaseous structures.

The Hubble Space Telescope Snapshot Survey. IV - A summary of the search for gravitationally lensed quasars

We report the concluding results of the HST Snapshot Survey for gravitationally lensed quasars. New observations of 153 high-luminosity z above 1 quasars are presented, bringing to 498 the total number of quasars observed in the survey. The new observations do not reveal new candidates for gravitational lensing. We present tables summarizing all of the snapshot observations, with measured V-magnitudes, accurate to 0.1 mag, for each of the quasars successfully observed. The observed frequency of lensing of quasars into multiple images is 3-6 out of 502, depending on whether one counts candidates that are not yet securely confirmed and cases in which clusters play a role. This frequency is in the range predicted by calculations with a vanishing cosmological constant, assuming galaxies can be modeled by unevolving isothermal spheres dominated in their centers by dark matter. The observed frequency is an order of magnitude lower than expected in such models when the universe is strongly dominated by a cosmological constant. This conclusion is, however, sensitive to the model assumptions and to the precise number of actual lensed quasars.

[ITAL]Hubble Space Telescope[/ITAL] and MERLIN Observations of the Jet in 3C 273

We present red and blue images of the jet of the quasar 3C 273 obtained with the WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope as well as a new radio map made with the MERLIN array. The images are of significantly better quality than those of previous data. The two maps are aligned to an accuracy of 0020; this accuracy is achieved because both the quasar and the jet are contained in both the radio and optical images. The start of the optical jet is marked by an elongated knot which appears identical at radio and optical wavelengths. Other knots in the optical jet correspond to narrow oblique features within the radio outline. The total width of the smooth emission in the optical jet is 07; the FWHM of the optical knots is 03. The knots may trace the current location of a narrow, perhaps helical jet lying within the outlines of the older radio cocoon.

The CIV-MgII Kinematics Connection in ~0.7 Galaxies

We have examined Faint Object Spectrograph data from the Hubble Space Telescope Archive for CIV 1548,1550 absorption associated with 40 MgII 2796,2803 absorption-selected galaxies at 0.4 color; if further data corroborate this trend, in view of the strong CIV-MgII kinematics correlation, it could imply a connection between stellar populations, star formation episodes, and the kinematics and ionization conditions of halo gas at z~1.

The C IV Absorption-Mg II Kinematics Connection in ⟨z⟩ ~ 0.7 Galaxies

We have examined Faint Object Spectrograph data from the Hubble Space Telescope Archive for CIV 1548,1550 absorption associated with 40 MgII 2796,2803 absorption-selected galaxies at 0.4 color; if further data corroborate this trend, in view of the strong CIV-MgII kinematics correlation, it could imply a connection between stellar populations, star formation episodes, and the kinematics and ionization conditions of halo gas at z~1.

HST and MERLIN Observations of the Jet in 3C273

We present red and blue images of the jet of the quasar 3C 273 obtained with the WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope as well as a new radio map made with the MERLIN array. The images are of significantly better quality than those of previous data. The two maps are aligned to an accuracy of 0020; this accuracy is achieved because both the quasar and the jet are contained in both the radio and optical images. The start of the optical jet is marked by an elongated knot which appears identical at radio and optical wavelengths. Other knots in the optical jet correspond to narrow oblique features within the radio outline. The total width of the smooth emission in the optical jet is 07; the FWHM of the optical knots is 03. The knots may trace the current location of a narrow, perhaps helical jet lying within the outlines of the older radio cocoon.