The circum-galactic medium of quasars: CIV absorption systems

TL;DR

This study examines the distribution and properties of CIV absorption systems in the circumgalactic medium of quasar host galaxies at z~2, revealing patchy gas structures extending up to 200 kpc.

Contribution

It provides new observational insights into the extent and patchiness of CIV absorbing gas around high-redshift quasars using optical spectroscopy.

Findings

Absorption systems detected up to 200 kpc from quasars.

Gas distribution is patchy with decreasing covering fraction beyond 100 kpc.

Results align with previous Mg II absorption studies.

Abstract

We investigate the properties of the circumgalactic gas in the halo of quasar host galaxies from CIV absorption line systems. Optical spectroscopy of closely aligned pairs of quasars (projected distance \leq 200 kpc) obtained at the Gran Telescopio Canarias is used to investigate the distribution of the absorbing gas for a sample of 18 quasars at z \sim 2. We found that the detected absorption systems of EW \geq 0.3Ang associated with the foreground QSO are revealed up to 200 kpc from the center of the host galaxy. The structure of the absorbing gas is rather patchy with a covering fraction of the gas that quickly decreases beyond 100 kpc. These results are in qualitative agreement with those found for the lower ionisation metal Mg II 2800 Ang.