3,105 research outputs found
Metal abundances and ionization conditions in a possibly dust-free damped Ly-alpha system at z=2.3
We have obtained a high resolution, high S/N UVES spectrum of the bright QSO
HE2243-6031 to analyze the damped Ly-alpha system (DLA) observed at z=2.33. The
metallicity of this system is 1/12 solar at a neutral hydrogen column density
of log N(HI)=20.7. From the observed ratios [Zn/Cr]=-0.01+/-0.05 and
[S/Si]=-0.06+/-0.03$ we conclude that dust is very likely absent from the ISM
of this protogalaxy. We observe an enhancement of the alpha/Fe-peak ratios of
+0.2 dex for various elements, a marked odd-even effect in Mn, and a strong
underabundance of N relative to Si and S, [N/Si,S]=-1 at [Si/H]=-0.86. All of
these ratios support an environment that is in an early evolutionary stage,
where the onset of star formation has begun only shortly before the DLA was
observed. We also perform a cloud-by-cloud analysis -- without precedent at
high redshift -- and find a tight correlation of all low-ionization species
with respect to FeII extending over 2.5 orders of magnitude in N(FeII). We
interpret this trend as being due to homogeneous physical conditions (very mild
ionization effects, common dust-destruction histories, same chemical
composition) and propose that this line of sight encounters absorbing clouds
that share a common environment. In addition, photoionization models show that
these single clouds are shielded from the external ionizing radiation, so the
fraction of ionized gas is small and, except for argon, does not influence the
measured metal abundances. The observed AlIII/low-ion ratios suggest the mildly
ionized gas occurs in shells surrounding neutral cores of AlII.Comment: To be published in A&
High-Redshift Metals. II. Probing Reionization Galaxies with Low-Ionization Absorption Lines at Redshift Six
We present a survey for low-ionization metal absorption line systems towards
17 QSOs at redshifts z_em=5.8-6.4. Nine of our objects were observed at high
resolution with either Keck/HIRES or Magellan/MIKE, and the remainder at
moderate resolution with Keck/ESI. The survey spans 5.3 < z_abs < 6.4 and has a
pathlength interval \Delta X=39.5, or \Delta z=8.0. In total we detect ten
systems, five of which are new discoveries. The line-of-sight number density is
consistent with the combined number density at z~3 of DLAs and sub-DLAs, which
comprise the main population of low-ionization systems at lower redshifts. This
apparent lack of evolution may occur because low ionization systems are hosted
by lower-mass halos at higher redshifts, or because the mean cross section of
low-ionization gas at a given halo mass increases with redshift due to the
higher densities and lower ionizing background. The roughly constant number
density notably contrasts with the sharp decline at z > 5.3 in the number
density of highly-ionized systems traced by C IV. The low-ionization systems at
z~6 span a similar range of velocity widths as lower-redshift sub-DLAs but have
significantly weaker lines at a given width. This implies that the
mass-metallicity relation of the host galaxies evolves towards lower
metallicities at higher redshifts. These systems lack strong Si IV and C IV,
which are common among lower-redshift DLAs and sub-DLAs. This is consistent,
however, with a similar decrease in the metallicity of the low- and
high-ionization phases, and does not necessarily indicate a lack of nearby,
highly-ionized gas. The high number density of low-ionization systems at z~6
suggests that we may be detecting galaxies below the current limits of
i-dropout and Ly-alpha emission galaxy surveys. These systems may therefore be
the first direct probes of the `typical' galaxies responsible for hydrogen
reionization.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, submitted to Ap
Commercial Fishing Port Development in North Florida
The author has identified the following significant results. Seven major counties were examined: Escambia, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, Nassau, and Duval. Population and economic activity were reviewed, along with commercial fishing and port facilities. Recommendations for five northwest Florida counties were based on interpretation of aerial photographs, satellite imagery, an aerial survey site visit, and published data. Major needs in Pensacola included docking, ice supply, and net and engine repair services. Costs for additional docks, an ice plant, and gear storage were estimated at 2,860,000. Added docking, gear storage, and ice supply, as well as gear electronics and diesel repair were needed in Port St. Joe. Costs were calculated at 1,107,000 for docks and gear storage, Eastpoint - 2,824,100 for docks, gear storage, and ice plant)
The Discovery of Vibrationally-Excited H_2 in the Molecular Cloud near GRB 080607
GRB 080607 has provided the first strong observational signatures of
molecular absorption bands toward any galaxy hosting a gamma-ray burst. Despite
the identification of dozens of features as belonging to various atomic and
molecular (H_2 and CO) carriers, many more absorption features remained
unidentified. Here we report on a search among these features for absorption
from vibrationally-excited H_2, a species that was predicted to be produced by
the UV flash of a GRB impinging on a molecular cloud. Following a detailed
comparison between our spectroscopy and static, as well as dynamic, models of
H_2* absorption, we conclude that a column density of 10^{17.5+-0.2} cm^{-2} of
H_2* was produced along the line of sight toward GRB 080607. Depending on the
assumed amount of dust extinction between the molecular cloud and the GRB, the
model distance between the two is found to be in the range 230--940 pc. Such a
range is consistent with a conservative lower limit of 100 pc estimated from
the presence of Mg I in the same data. These distances show that substantial
molecular material is found within hundreds of pc from GRB 080607, part of the
distribution of clouds within the GRB host galaxy.Comment: Submitted to ApJL, 6 pages emulate
The Role of Stellar Feedback in the Dynamics of HII Regions
Stellar feedback is often cited as the biggest uncertainty in galaxy
formation models today. This uncertainty stems from a dearth of observational
constraints as well as the great dynamic range between the small scales (<1 pc)
where the feedback occurs and the large scales of galaxies (>1 kpc) that are
shaped by this feedback. To bridge this divide, in this paper we aim to assess
observationally the role of stellar feedback at the intermediate scales of HII
regions. In particular, we employ multiwavelength data to examine several
stellar feedback mechanisms in a sample of 32 HII regions in the Large and
Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC, respectively). Using optical, infrared,
radio, and X-ray images, we measure the pressures exerted on the shells from
the direct stellar radiation, the dust-processed radiation, the warm ionized
gas, and the hot X-ray emitting gas. We find that the warm ionized gas
dominates over the other terms in all of the sources, although two have
comparable dust-processed radiation pressures to their warm gas pressures. The
hot gas pressures are comparatively weak, while the direct radiation pressures
are 1-2 orders of magnitude below the other terms. We discuss the implications
of these results, particularly highlighting evidence for hot gas leakage from
the HII shells and regarding the momentum deposition from the dust-processed
radiation to the warm gas. Furthermore, we emphasize that similar observational
work should be done on very young HII regions to test whether direct radiation
pressure and hot gas can drive the dynamics at early times.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures; accepted by Ap
A Budget and Accounting of Metals at z~0: Results from the COS-Halos Survey
We present a budget and accounting of metals in and around star-forming
galaxies at . We combine empirically derived star formation histories
with updated supernova and AGB yields and rates to estimate the total mass of
metals produced by galaxies with present-day stellar mass of
--. On the accounting side of the ledger, we
show that a surprisingly constant 20--25% mass fraction of produced metals
remain in galaxies' stars, interstellar gas and interstellar dust, with little
dependence of this fraction on the galaxy stellar mass (omitting those metals
immediately locked up in remnants). Thus, the bulk of metals are outside of
galaxies, produced in the progenitors of today's galaxies. The COS-Halos
survey is uniquely able to measure the mass of metals in the circumgalactic
medium (to impact parameters of kpc) of low-redshift
galaxies. Using these data, we map the distribution of CGM metals as traced by
both the highly ionized OVI ion and a suite of low-ionization species; combined
with constraints on circumgalactic dust and hotter X-ray emitting gas out to
similar impact parameters, we show that % of metals produced by
galaxies can be easily accounted for out to
150 kpc. With the current data, we cannot rule out a constant mass of metals
within this fixed physical radius. This census provides a crucial boundary
condition for the eventual fate of metals in galaxy evolution models.Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. ApJ, in pres
The kinetic temperature in a damped Lyman-alpha absorption system in Q2206-199 - an example of the warm neutral medium
By comparing the widths of absorption lines from OI, SiII and FeII in the
redshift z=2.076 single-component damped Lyman alpha absorption system in the
spectrum of Q2206-199 we establish that these absorption lines arise in Warm
Neutral Medium gas at ~12000 +/- 3000K. This is consistent with thermal
equilibrium model estimates of ~ 8000K for the Warm Neutral Medium in galaxies,
but not with the presence of a significant cold component. It is also
consistent with, but not required by, the absence of CII* fine structure
absorption in this system. Some possible implications concerning abundance
estimates in narrow-line WNM absorbers are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. MNRAS accepte
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