ABSTRACT We analyse the VLT/UVES spectrum of the quasar SDSS J143907.5-010616.7, retrieved from the UVES Spectral Quasar Absorption Database. We identify two outflow systems in the spectrum: a mini broad absorption line (mini-BAL) system and a narrow absorption line (NAL) system. We measure the ionic column densities of the mini-BAL ($$v$$ = −1550 km s−1) outflow, which has excited state absorption troughs of $${\rm Fe\, \rm {\small {ii}}}$$. We determine that the electron number density $$\log {n_e}=3.4^{+0.1}_{-0.1}$$, based on the ratios between the excited and ground state abundances of $${\rm Fe\, \rm {\small {ii}}}$$, and find the kinetic luminosity of the outflow to be $${\lesssim}0.1\,\hbox{per cent}$$ of the quasar’s Eddington luminosity, making it insufficient to contribute to AGN feedback.
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The Farthest Quasar Mini-Broad Absorption Line Outflow from Its Central Source: Very Large Telescope/UVES Observation of SDSS J0242+0049
Abstract We analyze Very Large Telescope/UVES observations of the quasar SDSS J024221.87+004912.6. We identify four absorption outflow systems: a C iv broad absorption line (BAL) at v ≈ −18,000 km s −1 and three narrower low-ionization systems with centroid velocities ranging from –1200 to –3500 km s −1 . These outflows show similar physical attributes to the [O iii ] outflows studied by Liu et al. (2013). We find that two of the systems are energetic enough to contribute to active galactic nucleus feedback, with one system reaching above 5% of the quasar’s Eddington luminosity. We also find that this system is at a distance of 67 kpc away from the quasar, the farthest detected mini-BAL absorption outflow from its central source to date. In addition, we examine the time-variability of the BAL and find that its velocity monotonically increases, while the trough itself becomes shallower over time.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2106249
- PAR ID:
- 10330174
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 927
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 176
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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