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FIRST 0747+2739: A FIRST/2MASS Quasar with an Overabundance of C IV Absorption Systems
Journal article   Open access

FIRST 0747+2739: A FIRST/2MASS Quasar with an Overabundance of C IV Absorption Systems

Gordon T Richards, Michael D Gregg, Robert H Becker and Richard L White
The Astrophysical journal, v 567(1), pp L13-L17
28 Jan 2002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/339853
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https://doi.org/10.1086/339853View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
March 2002, ApJ, 567, L13 We present a Keck ESI spectrum of FIRST 074711.2+273904, a K=15.4 quasar with redshift 4.11 that is detected by both FIRST and 2MASS. The spectrum contains at least 14 independent C IV absorption systems longward of the Ly-alpha forest. These systems are found over a path length of Delta z = 0.984, constituting one of the highest densities per unit redshift of C IV absorption ever observed. One of the C IV systems is trough-like and resembles a weak BAL-type outflow. Two of the C IV are ``associated'' absorption systems with |v|<3000 km/s. Of the 11 remaining systems with v>3000 km/s, eight are either resolved or require multiple discrete systems to fit the line profiles. In addition to C IV absorption, there are two low-ionization Mg II absorption systems along with two damped Ly-alpha systems, at least one of which may be a C IV system. The overdensity of C IV absorption spans a redshift range of Delta z=1. Superclusters along the line of sight are unlikely to cause an overdensity stretching over such a long redshift path, thus the absorption may be an example of narrow, high-velocity, intrinsic absorption that originates from the quasar. We suggest that this quasar is a member of a transitional class of BAL quasars where we are just barely seeing the spatial, density, or temporal edge of the BAL-producing region (or period); the multiple high-velocity absorption systems may be the remnants (or precursors) of a stronger BAL outflow. If correct, then some simpler absorption line complexes in other quasars may also be due to outflowing rather than intervening material.

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