Abundances and kinematics of a candidate sub-damped Lymanα galaxy toward PHL 1226
Christensen, L.; Schulte-Ladbeck, R. E.;Sánchez, S. F.; Becker, T.; Jahnke, K.; Kelz, A.;Roth, M. M.; Wisotzki, L.. Abundances and kinematics of a candidate sub-damped Lymanα galaxy toward PHL 1226. Astronomy and Astrophysics. 2005, Vol. v.429, p.477-487 , p. -2005.
The spectrum of the quasar PHL 1226 is known to have a strong Mg II and sub-damped Lymanα (sub-DLA) absorption line system with N(H I)=(5±2)×1019 cm-2 at z=0.1602. Using integral field spectra from the Potsdam Multi Aperture Spectrophotometer (PMAS) we investigate a galaxy at an impact parameter of 6.4 arcsec which is most probably responsible for the absorption lines. A fainter galaxy at a similar redshift and a slightly larger distance from the QSO is known to exist, but we assume that the absorption is caused by the more nearby galaxy. From optical Balmer lines we estimate an intrinsic reddening consistent with 0, and a moderate star formation rate of 0.5 Mȯ >yr-1, is inferred from the Hα luminosity. Using nebular emission line ratios we find a solar oxygen abundance 12+log(O/H)=8.7±0.1 and a solar nitrogen to oxygen abundance ratio log(N/O)=-1.0±0.2. This abundance is larger than those of all known sub-DLA systems derived from analyses of metal absorption lines in quasar spectra. On the other hand, the properties are compatible with the most metal rich galaxies responsible for strong Mg II absorption systems. These two categories can be reconciled if we assume an abundance gradient similar to local galaxies. Under that assumption we predict abundances 12+log(O/H)=7.1 and log(N/O)=-1.9 for the sub-DLA cloud, which is similar to high redshift DLA and sub-DLA systems. We find evidence for a rotational velocity of ˜200 km s-1 over a length of ˜7 kpc. From the geometry and kinematics of the galaxy we estimate that the absorbing cloud does not belong to a rotating disk, but could originate in a rotating halo.
Based on observations obtained at the German-Spanish Astronomical Center, Calar Alto, operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie Heidelberg jointly with the Spanish National Commission for Astronomy.
The spectrum of the quasar PHL 1226 is known to have a strong Mg II and sub-damped Lymanα (sub-DLA) absorption line system with N(H I)=(5±2)×1019 cm-2 at z=0.1602. Using integral field spectra from the Potsdam Multi Aperture Spectrophotometer (PMAS) we investigate a galaxy at an impact parameter of 6.4 arcsec which is most probably responsible for the absorption lines. A fainter galaxy at a similar redshift and a slightly larger distance from the QSO is known to exist, but we assume that the absorption is caused by the more nearby galaxy. From optical Balmer lines we estimate an intrinsic reddening consistent with 0, and a moderate star formation rate of 0.5 Mȯ >yr-1, is inferred from the Hα luminosity. Using nebular emission line ratios we find a solar oxygen abundance 12+log(O/H)=8.7±0.1 and a solar nitrogen to oxygen abundance ratio log(N/O)=-1.0±0.2. This abundance is larger than those of all known sub-DLA systems derived from analyses of metal absorption lines in quasar spectra. On the other hand, the properties are compatible with the most metal rich galaxies responsible for strong Mg II absorption systems. These two categories can be reconciled if we assume an abundance gradient similar to local galaxies. Under that assumption we predict abundances 12+log(O/H)=7.1 and log(N/O)=-1.9 for the sub-DLA cloud, which is similar to high redshift DLA and sub-DLA systems. We find evidence for a rotational velocity of ˜200 km s-1 over a length of ˜7 kpc. From the geometry and kinematics of the galaxy we estimate that the absorbing cloud does not belong to a rotating disk, but could originate in a rotating halo.
Based on observations obtained at the German-Spanish Astronomical Center, Calar Alto, operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie Heidelberg jointly with the Spanish National Commission for Astronomy.