Related papers: Intergalactic HeII absorption towards QSO 1157+314…
The reionization of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium (IGM) is a crucial landmark in the history of the universe, but the processes through which it occurs remain mysterious. In particular, recent numerical and analytic work suggest that…
A study of the absorption systems toward the gravitationally lensed quasar APM 08279+5255 is presented. Most of the MgII systems in the redshift range 1.2-2.07, although saturated, show large residuals at the bottom of the lines. The most…
We present HST/WFPC2 high-spatial resolution images in the R and B bands of the close environment of the sightlines to seven quasars which spectra show either a damped Ly-alpha absorption line, 21cm absorption, or a very strong MgII/FeII…
Recently, NIRSpec PRISM/CLEAR observations by JWST have begun providing rest-frame UV continuum measurements of galaxies at $z\gtrsim7$, revealing signatures of Ly$\alpha$ damping-wing (DW) absorption by the intergalactic medium (IGM). We…
We present a new ultra-violet spectrum of the QSO 0013-004 with 0.9 \AA resolution obtained with the MMT Blue spectrograph. The \upsilon = 0 - 0, 1 - 0, 2 - 0 and 3 - 0 Lyman bands of H_2 associated with the z = 1.9731 damped Ly alpah…
We report on the analysis of a BeppoSAX observation of IRAS 13197-1627. The complexity of the broad band (0.3-100 keV) spectrum of the source prevents us from selecting from two possible best-fit models, i.e. one based on a partial covering…
We quantify the presence of Ly\alpha\ damping wing absorption from a partially-neutral intergalactic medium (IGM) in the spectrum of the $z=7.08$ QSO, ULASJ1120+0641. Using a Bayesian framework, we simultaneously account for uncertainties…
We present VLT-UVES echelle spectra of the Lyman alpha emission and absorption in five radio galaxies at redshifts z=2.55-4.1. Together with data from our pilot study, we have a sample of 7 such systems with radio source sizes ~ 1-90 kpc…
We present MERLIN observations of Galactic 21-cm HI absorption at an angular resolution of c. 0.1-0.2 arcsec and a velocity resolution of 0.5 km/s, in the direction of three moderately low latitude (-8< b <-12 deg) extragalactic radio…
We present a new method to directly measure the opacity from HI Lyman limit (LL) absorption k_LL along quasar sightlines by the intergalactic medium (IGM). The approach analyzes the average (``stacked'') spectrum of an ensemble of quasars…
We have obtained spectroscopy of Q 1343+266 AB, a pair of quasars at redshift z = 2.03 with a projected separation of 9.5 arcseconds. This system is well-suited for probing the Ly-alpha forest, since the two component spectra show several…
(abridged) Aims. To reconstruct the spectral shape of the quasar ionizing radiation in the extreme-UV range (1Ryd <= E < 10Ryd) from the analysis of narrow absorption lines (NAL) of the associated systems. Methods. Computational technique…
In this Letter we demonstrate that the two claims of $z\simeq 0.03$ OVII K$\alpha$ absorption lines from Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) along the lines of sight to the blazars H~2356-309 (Buote et al., 2009; Fang et al., 2010) and…
We present images and spectroscopy of objects close to the sightline of Q2302+029 in order to search for galaxies responsible for the remarkable z=0.7 high-ionization absorption line system found by Jannuzi et al (1996). This system shows…
We used HST/STIS to obtain the spectrum of molecular hydrogen associated with the damped Ly$\alpha$ system at $z_{\rm abs}=1.7765$ toward the quasar Q1331+170 at $z_{\rm em}=2.084$. Strong ${\rm H}_2$ absorption was detected, with a total…
The observed large-scale scatter in Lyman $\alpha$ opacity of the intergalactic medium at $z<6$ implies large fluctuations in the neutral hydrogen fraction that are unexpected long after reionization has ended. A number of models have…
Low mass, low metallicity galaxies at low to moderate ($z\lesssim3$) redshifts offer the best opportunity for detailed examination of the interplay between massive stars, ionizing radiation and gas in sources similar to those that likely…
We discuss the origin and physical nature of the Lya forest absorption systems as found in hydrodynamical simulations of the Intergalactic Medium in a standard Cold Dark Matter cosmology (Omega=1, H0=50 km/s/Mpc, sigma_8=0.7). The…
We present the first results from our survey of intervening and proximate Lyman limit systems (LLSs) at $z$$\sim$2.0-2.5 using the Wide Field Camera 3 on-board the Hubble Space Telescope. The quasars in our sample are projected pairs with…
We report the discovery of a quasar at z=3.050+/-0.003, closely coincident in redshift with the isolated low-opacity feature seen near z~3.056 in the otherwise black portion of the HeII Gunn-Peterson absorption trough seen toward the…