Classifying broad absorption line quasars: metrics, issues and a new catalogue constructed from SDSS DR5

We apply a recently developed method for classifying broad absorption line quasars (BALQSOs) to the latest quasi-stellar object (QSO) catalogue constructed from Data Release 5 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Our new hybrid classification scheme combines the power of simple metrics, supervised neural networks and visual inspection. In our view, the resulting BALQSO catalogue is both more complete and more robust than all previous BALQSO catalogues, containing 3552 sources selected from a parent sample of 28 421 QSOs in the redshift range  1.7 < z < 4.2  . This equates to a raw BALQSO fraction of 12.5 per cent.
In the process of constructing a robust catalogue, we shed light on the main problems encountered when dealing with BALQSO classification, many of which arise due to the lack of a proper physical definition of what constitutes a BAL. This introduces some subjectivity in what is meant by the term BALQSO, and because of this, we also provide all of the meta-data used in constructing our catalogue, for every object in the parent QSO sample. This makes it easy to quickly isolate and explore subsamples constructed with different metrics and techniques. By constructing composite QSO spectra from subsamples classified according to the meta-data, we show that no single existing metric produces clean and robust BALQSO classifications. Rather, we demonstrate that a variety of complementary metrics are required at the moment to accomplish this task. Along the way, we confirm the finding that BALQSOs are redder than non-BALQSOs and that the raw BALQSO fraction displays an apparent trend with signal-to-noise ratio steadily increasing from 9 per cent in low signal-to-noise ratio data up to 15 per cent.     

The evolution of the Lyα forest effective optical depth following He ii reionization

Three independent observational studies have now detected a narrow  (Δ z ≃ 0.5)  dip centred at   z = 3.2  in the otherwise smooth redshift evolution of the Lyα forest effective optical depth. This feature has previously been interpreted as an indirect signature of rapid photoheating in the intergalactic medium (IGM) during the epoch of He  ii reionization. We examine this interpretation using a semi-analytic model of inhomogeneous He  ii reionization and high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of the Lyα forest. We instead find that a rapid  (Δ z ≃ 0.2)  boost to the IGM temperature  (Δ T ≃ 10⁴ K)  beginning at   z = 3.4  produces a well understood and generic evolution in the Lyα effective optical depth, where a sudden reduction in the opacity is followed by a gradual, monotonic recovery driven largely by adiabatic cooling in the low-density IGM. This behaviour is inconsistent with the narrow feature in the observational data. If photoheating during He  ii reionization is instead extended over several redshift units, as recent theoretical studies suggest, then the Lyα opacity will evolve smoothly with redshift. We conclude that the sharp dip observed in the Lyα forest effective optical depth is instead most likely due to a narrow peak in the hydrogen photoionization rate around   z = 3.2  , and suggest that it may arise from the modulation of either reprocessed radiation during He  ii reionization, or the opacity of Lyman limit systems.     

Active Galaxies in the UV

In this article we present different aspects of AGN studies demonstrating the importance of the UV spectral range. Most important diagnostic lines for studying the general physical conditions as well as the metalicities in the central broad line region in AGN are emitted in the UV. The UV/FUV continuum in AGN excites not only the emission lines in the immediate surrounding but it is responsible for the ionization of the intergalactic medium in the early stages of the universe. Variability studies of the emission line profiles of AGN in the UV give us information on the structure and kinematics of the immediate surrounding of the central supermassive black hole as well as on its mass itself.     

Latitudinal variation of Saturn photochemistry deduced from spatially-resolved ultraviolet spectra

We obtained spatially-resolved ultraviolet spectra of Saturn in 1994 with the Faint Object Spectrometer and Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope. We observed four areas on the planet at 15° N, 33° S, 41° S, and 52° S, with a field-of-view of less than 2 × 2 arcsec², compared to the 16-arcsec planet diameter. The wavelength range, 1550-2300 Å, encompasses absorption from major hydrocarbons (C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, CH₃C₂H, C₄H₂) and water. We find global hydrocarbon abundances and a C₂H₂ vertical distribution compatible with infrared observations, in contrast with previous analyses of ultraviolet spectra. The stratospheric haze opacity decreases from polar region to the equator. Saturn mid-latitudes are photochemically distinct from the rest of the planet. At 33° S, the spectrum requires either (1) a distinctly different C₂H₂ vertical distribution or (2) a locally enhanced water abundance. At 41° S, the hydrocarbon abundance exhibits a local minimum, within a global trend of increasing abundance from equator to pole. This global trend may result from an increased abundance of short-lived hydrocarbons such as C₄H₂. Photochemical models predict a depletion of hydrocarbon molecules in the presence of stratospheric water [Moses et al., 2000. Icarus 143, 166-202]. These results are consistent with a localized influx of water, in the form of high charge to mass ratio particles, flowing into Saturn's atmosphere at latitudes magnetically linked to the rings.     

Multi-object spectroscopy of the field surrounding PKS 2126−158: discovery of a z= 0.66 galaxy group

The high-redshift radio-loud quasar PKS 2126−158 is found to have a large number of red galaxies in close apparent proximity. We use the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini South to obtain optical spectra for a large fraction of these sources. We show that there is a group of galaxies at   z ∼ 0.66  , coincident with a metal-line absorption system seen in the quasar's optical spectrum. The multiplexing capabilities of GMOS also allow us to measure redshifts of many foreground galaxies in the field surrounding the quasar.
The galaxy group has five confirmed members, and a further four fainter galaxies are possibly associated. All confirmed members exhibit early-type galaxy spectra, a rare situation for a Mg  ii absorbing system. We discuss the relationship of this group to the absorbing gas, and the possibility of gravitational lensing of the quasar due to the intervening galaxies.     

Evidence for a large population of shocked interstellar clouds

A 21 cm absorption measurement over a long path length free of the effects of differential galactic rotation indicates the existence of two distinct cloud populations in the plane. One of them consisting of cold, dense clouds has been well studied before. The newly found hot clouds appear to be at least five times more numerous. They have a spin temperature of ~ 300 K, an rms velocity of ~ 35 km s^-1, twice the total mass, and hundred times the kinetic energy of the cold clouds. Over long path lengths, the hot clouds haveN _H/kpc ~ 2 X 10²¹ cm^-2 Kpc^-1, and are estimated to have individual column densities ≤ 10²⁰ cm^-2. We propose that they are shocked clouds found only within supernova bubbles and that the cold clouds are found in the regions in-between old remnants, immersed in an intercloud medium. We conclude that the solar neighbourhood must be located between old supernova remnants rather than within one.     

The power spectrum of the Lyman-α clouds

We investigate the clustering properties of 13 QSO lines of sight in flat space, with average redshifts from z ≈2 to 4. We estimate the 1D power spectrum and the integral density of neighbours, and discuss their variation with respect to redshift and column density. We compare the results with standard CDM models, and estimate the power spectrum of Lyman- α clustering as a function of both redshift and column density. We find that (a) there is no significant periodicity or characteristic scale; (b) the clustering depends on both column density and redshift; (c) the clustering increases linearly only if at the same time the H  i column density decreases strongly with redshift. The results remain qualitatively the same, assuming an open cosmological model.