VLT/UVES Observation of the Outflow in Quasar SDSS J1439-0106

TL;DR

This study analyzes VLT/UVES spectra of quasar SDSS J1439-0106, identifying outflow systems and measuring their properties, concluding the outflow's kinetic energy is too low to impact galaxy evolution.

Contribution

First detailed measurement of ionic column densities and electron density in the outflow of SDSS J1439-0106 using UVES spectra.

Findings

Identified mini-BAL and NAL outflow systems.

Measured electron density as log n_e=3.4.

Outflow's kinetic luminosity is less than 0.1% of Eddington luminosity.

Abstract

We analyze the VLT/UVES spectrum of the quasar SDSS J143907.5-010616.7, retrieved from the UVES Spectral Quasar Absorption Database. We identify two outflow systems in the spectrum: a mini broad absorption line (mini-BAL) system and a narrow absorption line (NAL) system. We measure the ionic column densities of the mini-BAL ($v=-1550$ km s$^{-1}$) outflow, which has excited state absorption troughs of Fe II. We determine that the electron number density $\log{n_e}=3.4^{+0.1}_{-0.1}$ based on the ratios between the excited and ground state abundances of Fe II, and find the kinetic luminosity of the outflow to be $\lesssim 0.1 \%$ of the quasar's Eddington luminosity, making it insufficient to contribute to AGN feedback.