Related papers: HD Molecular Lines in an Absorption System at Reds…
We have obtained a moderate resolution spectrum of the quasar PKS 0528-250 with the Red Channel Spectrograph on the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) in order to study a damped Lyman alpha absorption line system at z = 2.8115. We obtain a new…
Molecular hydrogen transitions in quasar spectra can be used to constrain variation in the proton-to-electron mass ratio, $\mu\equiv m_p/m_e$, at high redshifts ($z\gtrsim 2$). We present here an analysis of a new spectrum of the quasar…
We have studied a spectrum of Q0122+0338 (z = 1.202) obtained by the FOS on board HST. We present the analysis of three associated absorption systems at z = 1.207, 1.199 and 1.166. The most complex of these at z = 1.207 shows strong…
A brief overview is given of the current status of molecular emission line observations at high redshift. New observations are presented of CO in the gravitationally lensed quasar MG 0414+0534 (detected) and the unlensed quasar PG 1634+706…
Context. A statistically significant sampling of H2 rotational excitation in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) is essential to identifying its excitation mechanisms and assessing the importance of H2 in the cooling of the gas and the…
We present a reanalysis of the HeII Lyman alpha absorption towards the quasars HS1700+6416 and HE2347-4342 using new high S/N, optical observations. An alternative analysis method is applied, which fits the high quality, optical HI data…
The accretion of interstellar medium onto the central super massive black holes is widely accepted as the source of the gigantic energy released by the active galactic nuclei. But few pieces of observational evidence have been confirmed…
Molecules in diffuse and translucent clouds experience cooling as a result of radiation and less excitation from collisions. However, a rotation around a molecular axis of acetonitrile, CH3CN, cannot be cooled by radiation, causing…
We report ultraviolet spectra of the high-redshift (z_em = 2.9) quasar, HE 2347-4342, taken by the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Spectra in the G130M (medium-resolution, 1135-1440 A) and G140L…
We discuss the interstellar absorption from many atomic and molecular species seen in high-resolution $HST$/STIS UV and high-S/N optical spectra of the moderately reddened B3-5~V star HD~62542. This remarkable sight line exhibits both very…
We report on the stellar content, half-light radii and star formation rates of a sample of 10 known high-redshift ($z\gtrsim 2$) galaxies selected on strong neutral hydrogen (HI) absorption (log(N(HI)/cm$^{-2})>19$) toward background…
We report the results of initial FUSE observations of molecular hydrogen (H2) in translucent clouds. These clouds have greater optical depth than any of the diffuse clouds previously observed for far-UV H2 absorption, and provide new…
We report the discovery of two low redshift HI 21cm absorbers, one at z = 0.2212 towards the z_{em} = 0.630 quasar OI 363 (B0738+313), and the other at z = 0.3127 towards PKS B1127-145 (z_{em} = 1.187). Both were found during a survey of…
Molecular hydrogen (H2) absorption features observed in the line-of-sight to Q2348-011 at redshift zabs = 2.426 are analysed for the purpose of detecting a possible variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio mu=mp/me. By its structure…
We present the methodology for ``blind'' millimetre-wave surveys for redshifted molecular absorption in the CO/HCO$^+$ rotational lines. The frequency range $30-50$ GHz appears optimal for such surveys, providing sensitivity to absorbers at…
Aims. The comparative study of several molecular species at the origin of the gas phase chemistry in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) is a key input in unraveling the coupled chemical and dynamical evolution of the ISM. Methods. The…
The v =1-0 R(5) line of HD at 2.46um has been detected at the position of brightest line emission of shocked H2 in the Orion Molecular Cloud. The flux in this HD line, when compared to that of the previously detected HD 0--0 R(5) line at…
Intervening HI 21-cm absorption systems at z > 1.0 are very rare and only 4 confirmed detections have been reported in the literature. Despite their scarcity, they provide interesting and unique insights into the physical conditions in the…
We present the discovery of strong Balmer line absorption in H$\alpha$ to H$\gamma$ in two luminous low-ionization broad absorption line quasars (LoBAL QSOs) at z~1.5, with black hole masses around $10^{10}$ $M_\odot$ from near-IR…
We report the discovery of two damped Ly-alpha absorption-line systems (DLAs) near redshift z=1 along a single quasar sightline (Q1727+5302) with neutral hydrogen column densities of N(HI) = (1.45\pm0.15)\times10^{21} and…