Abstract

We discuss observations of the broad emission line in luminous intermediate redshift quasars, with emphasis on Q0207 -398. This object has relatively sharp lines, allowing us to deconvolve the profiles into distinct components. In this paper we examine the high ionization region, which we show must be matter-bounded, partially transparent to ionizing radiation. We measure a large N V λ1240/He II λ1640 ratio in Q0207-398, but detailed calculations predict this ratio to be ~1 for standard cloud properties. We show that no choice of incident continuum, ionizing photon flux, density, or even the appeal to nonradiative energy sources, can reproduce the observed N V, C IV, O VI, He II spectrum with solar abundances. The intensity of the N V line is sensitive to the abundance of the gas because the abundance of nitrogen, a secondary element goes up roughly as the square of the metallicity. The lowest metallicity capable of reproducing the N V spectrum in Q0207 - 398 is Z ~ 5 Z☉, consistent with that inferred to exist in the cores of massive galaxies after epochs of rapid star formation.

Our final model of the high-ionization emission region is one with many properties similar to those inferred for broad absorption-line QSO absorption-line clouds.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-20-1996

Notes/Citation Information

Published in The Astrophysical Journal, v. 461, no. 2, p. 683-697.

© 1996. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

The copyright holder has granted permission for posting the article here.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/177094

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