ScholarLens Back to search
1996•Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyOpen access

A quasar with ultrastrong, ultraviolet Fe II emission

M. J. Graham, R. G. Clowes, L. E. Campusano

Open full text 44 citations

Abstract

We report the discovery of an unusual quasar, 2226–3905, found during a survey of quasar candidates. The ultraviolet spectrum (intrinsic frame) of the object is dominated by extremely strong Fe ii emission. The emission lines are narrow (typical FWHM ∼ 2150 km s−1) and show little trace of their usually broad wings. Ciii] λ1909 appears to be blended with an Fe iii multiplet and we identify Fe iii lines originating from high-energy levels (∼ 10 eV). We consider two possible explanations: either the quasar is a low-ionization broad absorption line (BAL) quasar in which the sight-line does not intersect any BAL clouds or Lyα fluorescence is the main physical process involved in the formation of Fe iii. Our observations do not favour the BAL interpretation, but rather support the latter process. Higher resolution observations would give definite support to the Lya fluorescence.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

We report the discovery of an unusual quasar, 2226–3905, found during a survey of quasar candidates. The ultraviolet spectrum (intrinsic frame) of the object is dominated by extremely strong Fe ii emission. The emission lines are narrow (typical FWHM ∼ 2150 km s−1) and show little trace of their usually broad wings. Ciii] λ1909 appears to be blended with an Fe iii multiplet and we identify Fe iii lines originating from high-energy levels (∼ 10 eV). We consider two possible explanations: either the quasar is a low-ionization broad absorption line (BAL) quasar in which the sight-line does not intersect any BAL clouds or Lyα fluorescence is the main physical process involved in the formation of Fe iii. Our observations do not favour the BAL interpretation, but rather support the latter process. Higher resolution observations would give definite support to the Lya fluorescence.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 44 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

We report the discovery of an unusual quasar, 2226–3905, found during a survey of quasar candidates. The ultraviolet spectrum (intrinsic frame) of the object is dominated by extremely strong Fe ii emission. The emission lines are narrow (typical FWHM ∼ 2150 km s−1) and show little trace of their usually broad wings. Ciii] λ1909 appears to be blended with an Fe iii multiplet and we identify Fe iii lines originating from high-energy levels (∼ 10 eV). We consider two possible explanations: either the quasar is a low-ionization broad absorption line (BAL) quasar in which the sight-line does not intersect any BAL clouds or Lyα fluorescence is the main physical process involved in the formation of Fe iii. Our observations do not favour the BAL interpretation, but rather support the latter process. Higher resolution observations would give definite support to the Lya fluorescence.

Key concepts: Quasar, Physics, Emission spectrum, Astrophysics, Multiplet, Ultraviolet, Spectral line, Line (geometry)

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
A quasar with ultrastrong, ultraviolet Fe II emission — Research Paper | ScholarLens