Dynamically evolving Mg II broad absorption line flow in SDSS J133356.02+001229.1

TL;DR

This study monitors a quasar's Mg II broad absorption line flow, observing its disappearance and emergence of new components, suggesting dynamic, multi-streaming flows possibly triggered by accretion disk changes.

Contribution

First detailed monitoring of a low ionization BAL QSO showing real-time evolution of absorption features and proposing a multi-streaming flow model for variability.

Findings

Mg II absorption disappeared and re-emerged at different velocities.

Absorption variations are likely due to flow transiting across line of sight.

Possible link between QSO flux changes and absorption component emergence.

Abstract

We report a dynamically evolving low ionization broad absorption line flow in the QSO SDSS J133356.02+001229.1 (at z_em = 0.9197). These observations are part of our ongoing monitoring of low ionization broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs with the 2m telescope at IUCAA Girawali observatory (IGO). The broad Mg II absorption with an ejection velocity of 1.7x10^4 km/s, found in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra, has disappeared completely in our IGO spectra. We found an emerging new component at an ejection velocity of 2.8 x 10^4 km/s. During our monitoring period this component has shown strong evolution both in its velocity width and optical depth and nearly disappeared in our latest observations. Acceleration of a low velocity component seen in SDSS spectrum to a higher velocity is unlikely as the Mg II column densities are always observed to be higher for the new component. We argue that the observed variations may not be related to ionization changes and are consistent with absorption produced by multi-streaming flow transiting across our line of sight. We find a possible connection between flux variation of the QSO and N(Mg II) of the newly emerged component. This could mean the ejection being triggered by changes in the accretion disk or dust reddening due to the outflowing gas.