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arXiv 1608.02584astro-ph.GA
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低金属性吸收体占z < 1时致密环银河系气体的一半

Low-metallicity Absorbers Account for Half of the Dense Circumgalactic Gas at z < 1

Christopher B. Wotta, Nicolas Lehner, J. Christopher Howk, John M. O'Meara, J. Xavier Prochaska

摘要:

本文用偏莱曼极限系统(pLLS,16.1 < log N(H I)< 17.2)和LLS(17.2 < log N(H I)<17.7)分析了0.1 < z < 1.1的稠密环星系介质(CGM)的金属丰度分布。新的H I选择的样本,从我们的HST COS G140 L快照调查的61个类星体,有20个pLLS和10个LLS。结合我们以前的调查,我们共有44个pLLS和11个LLS。我们发现pLLS的金属丰度分布在z < 1处是双峰的,在[X/H] =-1处具有最小值。低金属丰度峰占pLLS的(57 +/- 8)%,集中在[X/H] ~ -1.87(1.3%太阳金属丰度),而高金属丰度峰集中在[X/H] ~ -0.32(48%太阳金属丰度)。尽管低丰度系统的样本仍然很小,但有一些证据表明低丰度系统和pLLS的金属丰度分布是不同的,极贫金属([X/H] < -1.4)低丰度系统的比例远低于pLLS。[X/H] < -1的LLS的分数与pLLS中发现的分数相似(~56%)。然而,较高的H I柱密度吸收体(log N(H I)> 19.0)显示出低得多的贫金属气体比例;因此,星系内和周围气体的金属丰度分布敏感地依赖于z < 1时的N(H I)。我们将高金属丰度([X/H] > -1)pLLS和LLS解释为星系周围的外流、循环风和潮汐剥离气体中产生的。低金属丰度pLLS和LLS意味着z < 1星系的CGM也是大量冷、致密、低金属丰度气体的宿主,这些气体最终可能会吸积到星系上。

英文摘要:

We present an analysis of the metallicity distribution of the dense circumgalactic medium (CGM) of galaxies at 0.1 < z < 1.1 as probed by partial Lyman limit systems (pLLSs, 16.1 < log N(H I) < 17.2) and LLSs (17.2 < log N(H I) < 17.7 in our sample). The new H I-selected sample, drawn from our HST COS G140L snapshot survey of 61 QSOs, has 20 pLLSs and 10 LLSs. Combined with our previous survey, we have a total of 44 pLLSs and 11 LLSs. We find that the metallicity distribution of the pLLSs is bimodal at z < 1, with a minimum at [X/H] = -1. The low-metallicity peak comprises (57 +/- 8)% of the pLLSs and is centered at [X/H] ~ -1.87 (1.3% solar metallicity), while the high-metallicity peak is centered at [X/H] ~ -0.32 (48% solar metallicity). Although the sample of LLSs is still small, there is some evidence that the metallicity distributions of the LLSs and pLLSs are different, with a far lower fraction of very metal-poor ([X/H] < -1.4) LLSs than pLLSs. The fraction of LLSs with [X/H] < -1 is similar to that found in pLLSs (~56%). However, higher H I column density absorbers (log N(H I) > 19.0) show a much lower fraction of metal-poor gas; therefore, the metallicity distribution of gas in and around galaxies depends sensitively on N(H I) at z < 1. We interpret the high-metallicity ([X/H] > -1) pLLSs and LLSs as arising in outflows, recycling winds, and tidally-stripped gas around galaxies. The low-metallicity pLLSs and LLSs imply that the CGM of z < 1 galaxies is also host to a substantial mass of cool, dense, low-metallicity gas that may ultimately accrete onto the galaxies.

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