Exploring the Circumgalactic Medium of Quasars: A Search for Nearby Interacting Galaxies

Cynthia Ibrahim; Abdul Qadeer Rehan; Abdul Qadeer Rehan; Abdul Qadeer Rehan; Abdul Qadeer Rehan; Abdul Qadeer Rehan; Abdul Qadeer Rehan

Exploring the Circumgalactic Medium of Quasars: A Search for Nearby Interacting Galaxies

ORAL

Abstract

A challenge in the study of the circumgalactic medium (CGM) around quasars is pinpointing what causes quasars with cool circumgalactic gas to be more luminous than ones without. The CGM is the gas surrounding a galaxy, which is outside their stellar disks and within their virial radius. It is important because the CGM is a source of fuel for star-formation which \textunderscore can then drive stellar winds that can help recycle metals\textunderscore . Here we explore galaxies near quasars, at redshifts 0.4 \textless z \textless 1.0, to test if they are interacting with the quasar which may dynamically disturb the cool gas in the quasar's CGM. This could possibly lead to gas accretion which would fuel the quasar. One way to test for interaction is by investigating the nebular emission of galaxies near a quasar's environment. We do this by looking for a correlation between intensity of emission lines and distance from quasar. Specifically, we are focusing on nebular emission lines associated with star formation with the goal of searching for enhanced star formation, which could be evidence of an interaction with the nearby quasar. Here we will present the preliminary results of our Magellan/LDSS3 spectroscopic survey of galaxies within quasar environments. From our initial case study, we find no evidence of enhanced star formation for the galaxies near the quasar. Our future work will incoporate the full sample of all 19 quasar fields with optical spectroscopy and determining other physical parameters.

Jan. 24, 2021, 12:10 PM – Jan. 24, 2021, 12:20 PM

Authors

Cynthia Ibrahim

San Diego State University
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond
Abdul Qadeer Rehan

University of Tennessee, University of York, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Physics - University of Sao Paulo, Naval Research Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Space Sciences Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Sandia National Laboratories, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Federal University of Bahia; University of Brasília, Federal University of Bahia, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University & Department of Physics, Yale University, Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Current affiliation: Seagate Research Group, Seagate Technology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Swarthmore College, Western Washington University, Departments of Chemistry and Physics and The Baruch 60 Center for Biochemical Solar Energy Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Florida, Wayne State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, College Park, NASA GSFC, CfA, California Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, Durham University, University of Alberta, University of Michigan, Curtin University, Michigan State University, University of Nevada, University of Chicago, Duke University, Cornell, Pennsylvania State University, New York University Abu Dhabi, NASA Ames Research Center, Kenyon Coll, Kenyon College, University of Texas at Austin, Flatiron Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, HERA, HERA, Rochester Institute of Technology, Howard Community College, Carleton College, California State University at Long Beach, Bishop Ireton High School, Fayetteville State University, Univ of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Carnegie Observatories, San Diego State University, Associate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Physics, JILA, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO, Department of Physics, 390 UCB University of Colorado, University of Washington, James Franck Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Harvard University, Nagoya University, Toyota Technological Institute, University of Tokyo, Zhejiang University, Clark University, Natl Univ of Singapore, University of Richmond