Evolution of quasar absorption-selected galaxies

TL;DR

This study investigates the properties and evolution of galaxies causing MgII absorption lines in quasar spectra, analyzing their star formation history and halo characteristics across redshifts 0.7 to 1.2.

Contribution

It provides a combined analysis of MgII absorbing galaxies at different redshifts, revealing the persistence of the halo radius-luminosity correlation and insights into their star formation history.

Findings

Halo radius correlates with galaxy luminosity at z=1

Constructed template spectra for different redshifts

Analyzed star formation history of MgII absorbing galaxies

Abstract

We present the results of a survey of galaxies selected by their gas cross-section which give rise to MgII absorption lines in the spectra of background quasars. The sample comprises 11 galaxies covering the redshift range 0.7 < z < 1.2, and is combined with a lower redshift sample of 15 MgII absorbing galaxies. The spectra range from present-day elliptical to irregular galaxies. The strong corrleation found previously at lower redshift, between the halo radius and the galaxy luminosity still holds at z=1. For the low and high redshift samples, we have built template spectra by combining individual galaxies spectra. We use these templates to analyse the mean abundance and the past history of star formation of the MgII absorbing galaxies.