High Mass Flow Rate in a BAL Outflow of Quasar SDSS J1130+0411

TL;DR

This study analyzes quasar SDSS J1130+0411's outflows, revealing a high mass flow rate and significant kinetic energy contribution, indicating impactful AGN feedback at a high redshift.

Contribution

First detailed measurement of mass flow rate and kinetic luminosity in a high-redshift quasar outflow using UV spectroscopy.

Findings

Mass flow rate of approximately 4100 solar masses per year.

Outflow kinetic luminosity is about 1.4% of the Eddington luminosity.

Outflow located at about 16 kpc from the quasar.

Abstract

We present the analysis of the absorption troughs of six outflows observed in quasar SDSS J1130+0411 ($z \approx 3.98$) with radial velocities ranging from $-2400$ to $-15,400$ km s$^{-1}$. These spectra were taken with the Very Large Telescope/Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph over the rest frame wavelength range of $1135-1890$ \r{A}. In the main outflow system ($v \approx -3200$ km s$^{-1}$), we identify Fe II and several Fe II* absorption troughs as well as Si II and Si II* troughs, which we use to determine the electron number density $\log n_e = 2.6_{-0.7}^{+0.8}$ cm$^{-3}$. Using the column densities of these and other ions, we determine a photoionization solution with hydrogen column density $\log N_H = 21.44_{-0.33}^{+0.24}$ cm$^{-2}$ and ionization parameter $\log U_H = -1.75_{-0.45}^{+0.28}$. From these values we derive the distance $R = 16_{-11}^{+23}$ kpc, the average mass flow rate $\dot{M} = 4100_{-2400}^{+6600}$ $M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, and the kinetic luminosity $\log \dot{E}_k = 46.13_{-0.37}^{+0.41}$ erg s$^{-1}$. This $\dot{E}_k$ is $1.4_{-0.8}^{+2.2}$% of the quasar's Eddington luminosity, and therefore contributes significantly to AGN feedback.