NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0521
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0521 |
|
PI: David Austerberry, Creighton University, dca65085@creighton.edu
Address: Physics Department, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
CoI: Dr. Jack Gabel, Creighton University
Title: Constraining BALQSO Kinetic Luminosity with CIII* Absorption
Abstract: It is hypothesized that feedback from AGN outflows can significantly affect galaxy formation. Hence, a lower limit on the kinetic luminosity of an outflow is of interest if it is above a level critical to galaxy growth and evolution. Observed ionic column densities constrain the ionization parameter, hydrogen density, and hydrogen column density for in computations of the outflow kinetic luminosity. The column density of C III* (lambda)(lambda)1175 is especially indicative of the outflow’s density since the abundance of this ion relative to other carbon ions is highly sensitive to gas density in moderate to high ionization environments. Low resolution Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra cannot resolve Ly (alpha) for an adequately constrained CIII* column density. However, this can be achieved by improving resolution from 130 km/s to 40 km/s. We propose to set lower limits on the kinetic luminosities of two BAL quasars previously observed in the SDSS through moderate resolution observations using the echelle spectrograph on the Kitt Peak Mayall 4-meter telescope.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0521 |
|