arXiv subjects

H. -W. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to H. -W. Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

HI 21-cm absorption in low- and high-excitation radio-loud AGNs at $z<0.5$ from MALS

We present results from a search of cold neutral gas associated with radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at $z < 0.5$ using HI 21-cm absorption measurements from the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS). Cross-matching the MALS 1006 MHz and SDSS DR18 catalogs yields 1908 radio sources at $z < 0.5$. Of these, 613 are classified as AGNs using BPT diagnostics and radio luminosity criteria. We further classify 426 AGNs into 327 low-excitation radio galaxies (LERGs) and 99 high-excitation radio galaxies (HERGs). We observe a significant ($>3σ$) difference in $k$-corrected $g-r$ color, consistent with LERGs residing in older galaxies with quenched star formation. We searched a radio-bright subsample of 79 LERGs and 20 HERGs ($S_{\mathrm{1.4\,GHz}} > 4$ mJy) for associated HI 21-cm absorption. This spans six decades in radio luminosity ($\log L_{\mathrm{1.4\,GHz}}$ (WHz$^{-1}$) $\sim 21.1-27.0$), probing an order of magnitude fainter than previous targeted HI surveys. We report five new detections (4 LERGs, 1 HERG) at $0.29 < z < 0.47$. The overall detection rate of $3^{+3}_{-2}$% (at a $3σ$ threshold of 10.0 kms$^{-1}$) is consistent with sensitivity-matched low-$z$ ($<0.2$) samples, suggesting no significant redshift evolution out to $z \sim 0.5$ or dependence on radio luminosity. Evaluating velocity offset, asymmetry, and width reveals three systems with entirely redshifted absorption and two with predominantly blueshifted absorption. HI profiles in LERGs show diverse asymmetries and velocity offsets exceeding 350 kms$^{-1}$, indicating disturbed cold-gas kinematics likely driven by lobe expansion or jet activity.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

First IFU observations of two GRB host galaxies at cosmic noon with JWST/NIRSpec

Long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) serve as powerful probes of distant galaxies. Their luminous afterglow pinpoints galaxies independent of luminosity, in contrast to most flux-limited surveys. Nevertheless, GRB-selected galaxy samples are not free from bias, instead tracing the conditions favoured by the progenitor stars. Characterising the galaxy populations traced by GRBs is therefore important both to effectively use GRBs as probes as well as to place stronger constraints on the progenitor stars capable of forming long GRBs. Spatially-resolved spectroscopic observations with integral field units (IFUs) provide valuable insights into the interstellar medium and stellar populations of GRB host galaxies. In this paper we present results of the first two GRB host galaxies observed with the JWST/NIRSpec IFU with a spatial resolution of ~ 1.6 kpc; the hosts of GRB 150403A and GRB 050820A at redshifts z ~ 2.06 and z ~ 2.61, respectively. The data reveal two complex galaxy environments made up of two or more star forming galaxies that are likely interacting given their small spatial separation (< 20 kpc) and line of sight velocity offsets (< 100 km/s). The measured gas-phase metallicity, star formation rates (SFRs), and key diagnostic line ratios for each of the detected galaxies are overall consistent with the properties of other star forming galaxies and GRB hosts at z > 2. However, differences in the SFR and metallicities of the interacting galaxies highlight the importance of spatially resolved observations in order to accurately characterise the galaxy properties traced by GRBs.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Comparing emission- and absorption-based gas-phase metallicities in GRB host galaxies at $z=2-4$ using JWST

Much of what is known of the chemical composition of the universe is based on emission line spectra from star forming galaxies. Emission-based inferences are, nevertheless, model-dependent and they are dominated by light from luminous star forming regions. An alternative and sensitive probe of the metallicity of galaxies is through absorption lines imprinted on the luminous afterglow spectra of long gamma ray bursts (GRBs) from neutral material within their host galaxy. We present results from a JWST/NIRSpec programme to investigate for the first time the relation between the metallicity of neutral gas probed in absorption by GRB afterglows and the metallicity of the star forming regions for the same host galaxy sample. Using an initial sample of eight GRB host galaxies at z=2.1-4.7, we find a tight relation between absorption and emission line metallicities when using the recently proposed $\hat{R}$ metallicity diagnostic (+/-0.2dex). This agreement implies a relatively chemically-homogeneous multi-phase interstellar medium, and indicates that absorption and emission line probes can be directly compared. However, the relation is less clear when using other diagnostics, such as R23 and R3. We also find possible evidence of an elevated N/O ratio in the host galaxy of GRB090323 at z=3.58, consistent with what has been seen in other $z>4$ galaxies. Ultimate confirmation of an enhanced N/O ratio and of the relation between absorption and emission line metallicities will require a more direct determination of the emission line metallicity via the detection of temperature-sensitive auroral lines in our GRB host galaxy sample.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

First results from the JWST Early Release Science Program Q3D: Benchmark Comparison of Optical and Mid-IR Tracers of a Dusty, Ionized Red Quasar Wind at z=0.435

The [OIII] 5007 A emission line is the most common tracer of warm, ionized outflows in active galactic nuclei across cosmic time. JWST newly allows us to use mid-infrared spectral features at both high spatial and spectral resolution to probe these same winds. Here we present a comparison of ground-based, seeing-limited [OIII] and space-based, diffraction-limited [SIV] 10.51 micron maps of the powerful, kiloparsec-scale outflow in the Type 1 red quasar SDSS J110648.32+480712.3. The JWST data are from the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). There is a close match in resolution between the datasets (0."6), in ionization potential of the O$^{+2}$ and S$^{+3}$ ions (35 eV), and in line sensitivity (1e-17 to 2e-17 erg/s/cm$^2$/arcsec$^2$). The [OIII] and [SIV] line shapes match in velocity and linewidth over much of the 20 kpc outflowing nebula, and [SIV] is the brightest line in the rest-frame 3.5-19.5 micron range, demonstrating its usefulness as a mid-IR probe of quasar outflows. [OIII] is nevertheless intriniscally brighter and provides better contrast with the point-source continuum, which is strong in the mid-IR. There is a strong anticorrelation of [OIII]/[SIV] with average velocity, which is consistent with a scenario of differential obscuration between the approaching (blueshifted) and receding (redshifted) sides of the flow. The dust in the wind may also obscure the central quasar, consistent with models that attribute red quasar extinction to dusty winds.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

MALS SALT-NOT survey of MIR-selected powerful radio-bright AGN at 0<z<3.5

We present results of an optical spectroscopic survey using SALT and NOT to build a WISE mid-infrared color-based, dust-unbiased sample of powerful radio-bright ($>$200 mJy at 1.4 GHz) AGN for the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS). Our sample has 250 AGN (median $z=1.8$) showing emission lines, 26 with no emission lines, and 27 without optical counterparts. Overall, our sample is fainter ($Δi$=0.6 mag) and redder ($Δ(g-i)$=0.2 mag) than radio-selected quasars, and representative of fainter quasar population detected in optical surveys. About 20% of the sources are narrow line AGN (NLAGN) $-$ 65% of these, at $z < 0.5$ are galaxies without strong nuclear emission, and 10% at $z>1.9$, have emission line ratios similar to radio galaxies. The farthest NLAGN in our sample is M1513$-$2524 ($z_{em}=3.132$), and the largest (size$\sim$330 kpc) is M0909$-$3133 ($z_{em}=0.884$). We discuss in detail 110 AGN at $1.9 < z < 3.5$. Despite representing the radio loudest quasars (median $R$=3685), their Eddington ratios are similar to the SDSS quasars having lower $R$. We detect 4 CIV BALQSOs, all among AGN with least $R$, and highest black hole masses and Eddington ratios. The BAL detection rate ($4^{+3}_{-2}$%) is consistent with that seen in extremely powerful ($L_{1.4GHz}>10^{25}$ WHz$^{-1}$) quasars. Using optical light-curves, radio polarization and $γ$-ray detections, we identify 7 high-probability BL Lacs. We also summarize the full MALS footprint to search for HI 21-cm and OH 18-cm lines at $z<2$.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Improving blazar redshift constraints with the edge of the Ly$α$ forest: 1ES 1553+113 and implications for observations of the WHIM

Blazars are some of the brightest UV and X-ray sources in the sky and are valuable probes of the elusive warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM; $T{\simeq} 10^5-10^7$ K). However, many of the brightest blazars$-$called BL Lac objects such as 1ES1553+113$-$have quasi-featureless spectra and poorly constrained redshifts. Here, we significantly improve the precision of indirect redshift constraints for blazars based on the edge of the $\rm{H\,I}$ Ly$α$ forest observed in their UV spectra. We develop a robust technique to constrain the redshift of a $z<0.5$ AGN or blazar with a $1σ$ uncertainty of ${\approx}0.01$ using only the position of its highest-redshift Ly$α$ absorber with $\log N_{\rm{H\,I}}/{\rm cm^{-2}} > 12.6$. We use a large sample of 192 AGN/QSOs at $0.01\lesssim z\lesssim0.45$ that have high-quality COS FUV spectra to characterize the intrinsic scatter in the gap between the AGN redshift and the edge of their Ly$α$ forest. We present new COS NUV data for 1ES1553+113 and confirm its redshift of $z=0.433$ using our technique. We apply our Ly$α$-forest-based redshift estimation technique to nine additional blazars with archival ${\it HST}$ UV spectra, most of which are key targets for future X-ray missions. Our inferred redshift constraints improve estimates for two BL Lacs (1ES1118+424 and S50716+714) and are consistent with previous estimates for the rest. Our results emphasize the need to obtain further UV spectra of bright blazars, of which many have uncertain redshifts, in order to maximize the scientific value of future X-ray WHIM observations that will improve our understanding of galaxy evolution.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

PKS1830-211: OH and HI at z=0.89 and the first MeerKAT UHF spectrum

The Large Survey Project (LSP) "MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey" (MALS) is a blind HI 21-cm and OH 18-cm absorption line survey in the L- and UHF-bands, with the primary goal to better determine the occurrence of atomic and molecular gas in the circum-galactic and inter-galactic medium, and its redshift evolution. Here we present the first results using the UHF-band, obtained towards the strongly lensed radio source PKS1830, detecting absorption in the lens galaxy. With merely 90min of data acquired on-source for science verification and processed using the Automated Radio Telescope Imaging Pipeline (ARTIP), we detect in absorption the known HI 21-cm and OH 18-cm main lines at z=0.89 at an unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio (4000 in the continuum, with 6km/s channels). For the first time we report the detection at z=0.89 of OH satellite lines, so far not detected at z $>$ 0.25. We decompose the OH lines into a thermal and a stimulated contribution, where the 1612 and 1720MHz lines are conjugate. The total OH 1720MHz emission line luminosity is 6100Lsun. This is the most luminous known 1720MHz maser line. The absorption components of the different images of the background source sample different light paths in the lensing galaxy, and their weights in the total absorption spectrum are expected to vary in time, on daily and monthly time scales. We compare our normalized spectra with those obtained more than 20 yrs ago, and find no variation. We interpret the absorption spectra with the help of a lens galaxy model, derived from an N-body hydro-dynamical simulation, with a morphology similar to its optical HST image. It is possible to reproduce the observations without invoking any central gas outflows. There are, however, distinct and faint high-velocity features, most likely high-velocity clouds. These clouds may contribute to broaden the HI and OH spectra.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Blind HI and OH absorption line search: first results with MALS and uGMRT processed using ARTIP

We present details of the Automated Radio Telescope Imaging Pipeline (ARTIP) and results of a sensitive blind search for HI and OH absorbers at $z<0.4$ and $z<0.7$, respectively. ARTIP is written in Python 3.6, extensively uses the Common Astronomy Software Application (CASA) tools and tasks, and is designed to enable the geographically-distributed MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS) team to collaboratively process large volumes of radio interferometric data. We apply it to the first MALS dataset obtained using the 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope and 32K channel mode of the correlator. With merely 40 minutes on target, we present the most sensitive spectrum of PKS1830-211 ever obtained and characterize the known HI ($z=0.19$) and OH ($z=0.89$) absorbers. We further demonstrate ARTIP's capabilities to handle realistic observing scenarios by applying it to a sample of 72 bright radio sources observed with the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) to blindly search for HI and OH absorbers. We estimate the numbers of HI and OH absorbers per unit redshift to be $n_{21}(z\sim0.18)<$0.14 and $n_{\rm OH}(z\sim0.40)<$0.12, respectively, and constrain the cold gas covering factor of galaxies at large impact parameters (50 kpc $<ρ<$ 150 kpc) to be less than 0.022. Due to the small redshift path, $Δz\sim$13 for HI with column density$>5.4\times10^{19}$ cm$^{-2}$, the survey has probed only the outskirts of star-forming galaxies at $ρ>30$ kpc. MALS with the expected $Δz\sim10^{3-4}$ will overcome this limitation and provide stringent constraints on the cold gas fraction of galaxies in diverse environments over $0<z<1.5$.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Proposal and demonstration of germanium-on-silicon lock-in pixels for indirect time-of-flight based three-dimensional sensing

We propose the use of germanium-on-silicon technology for indirect time-of-flight based three-dimensional sensing, and demonstrate a novel lock-in pixel featuring high quantum efficiency and large frequency bandwidth. Compared to silicon pixels, germanium-on-silicon pixels simultaneously maintain a high quantum efficiency and a high demodulation contrast deep into GHz frequency regime, which enable consistently superior depth accuracy in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Physical model, numerical simulation, device fabrication and characterization, system performance comparison, and laser safety analysis are presented. Our work paves a new path to high-performance time-of-flight rangers and imagers, as well as potential adoption of lasers operated at a longer near infrared wavelength that falls outside of the operation window of silicon pixels.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Circumgalactic Pressure Profiles Indicate Precipitation-Limited Atmospheres for $M_* \sim 10^9$$-$$10^{11.5}\,M_\odot$

Cosmic gas cycles in and out of galaxies, but outside of galaxies it is difficult to observe except for the absorption lines that circumgalactic clouds leave in the spectra of background quasars. Using photoionization modeling of those lines to determine cloud pressures, we find that galaxies are surrounded by extended atmospheres that confine the clouds and have a radial pressure profile that depends on galaxy mass. Motivated by observations of the universe's most massive galaxies, we compare those pressure measurements with models predicting the critical pressure at which cooler clouds start to precipitate out of the hot atmosphere and rain toward the center. We find excellent agreement, implying that the precipitation limit applies to galaxies over a wide mass range.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Circumgalactic Gas and the Precipitation Limit

During the last decade, numerous and varied observations, along with increasingly sophisticated numerical simulations, have awakened astronomers to the central role the circumgalactic medium (CGM) plays in regulating galaxy evolution. It contains the majority of the baryonic matter associated with a galaxy, along with most of the metals, and must continually replenish the star forming gas in galaxies that continue to sustain star formation. And while the CGM is complex, containing gas ranging over orders of magnitude in temperature and density, a simple emergent property may be governing its structure and role. Observations increasingly suggest that the ambient CGM pressure cannot exceed the limit at which cold clouds start to condense out and precipitate toward the center of the potential well. If feedback fueled by those clouds then heats the CGM and causes it to expand, the pressure will drop and the "rain" will diminish. Such a feedback loop tends to suspend the CGM at the threshold pressure for precipitation. The coming decade will offer many opportunities to test this potentially fundamental principle of galaxy evolution.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

An Independent Measurement of the Incidence of MgII Absorbers along Gamma-Ray Burst Sightlines: the End of the Mystery?

In 2006, Prochter et al. reported a statistically significant enhancement of very strong Mg II absorption systems intervening the sightlines to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) relative to the in- cidence of such absorption along quasar sightlines. This counterintuitive result, has inspired a diverse set of astrophysical explanations (e.g. dust, gravitational lensing) but none of these has obviously resolved the puzzle. Using the largest set of GRB afterglow spectra available, we reexamine the purported enhancement. In an independent sample of GRB spectra with a survey path 3 times larger than Prochter et al., we measure the incidence per unit redshift of $\geq 1$Årest-frame equivalent width Mg II absorbers at $z \approx 1$ to be l(z)= 0.18 $\pm$ 0.06. This is fully consistent with current estimates for the incidence of such absorbers along quasar sightlines. Therefore, we do not confirm the original enhancement and suggest those results suffered from a statistical fluke. Signatures of the original result do remain in our full sample (l(z) shows an $\approx 1.5$ enhancement over l(z)QSO), but the statistical significance now lies at $\approx 90%$ c.l. Restricting our analysis to the subset of high-resolution spectra of GRB afterglows (which overlaps substantially with Prochter et al.), we still reproduce a statistically significant enhancement of Mg II absorption. The reason for this excess, if real, is still unclear since there is no connection between the rapid afterglow follow-up process with echelle (or echellette) spectrographs and the detectability of strong Mg II doublets. Only a larger sample of such high-resolution data will shed some light on this matter.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Galaxy counterparts of intervening high-z sub-DLAs/DLAs and MgII absorbers towards gamma-ray bursts

We present the first search for galaxy counterparts of intervening high-z (2<z< 3.6) sub-DLAs and DLAs towards GRBs. Our final sample comprises of five intervening sub-DLAs and DLAs in four GRB fields. To identify candidate galaxy counterparts of the absorbers we use deep optical and near-infrared imaging, and low-, mid- and high-resolution spectroscopy acquired with 6 to 10-m class telescopes, the Hubble and the Spitzer space telescopes. Furthermore, we use the spectroscopic information and spectral-energy-distribution fitting techniques to study them in detail. Our main result is the detection and spectroscopic confirmation of the galaxy counterpart of the intervening DLA at z=3.096 in the field of GRB 070721B (z_GRB=3.6298) as proposed by other authors. We also identify good candidates for the galaxy counterparts of the two strong MgII absorbers at z=0.6915 and 1.4288 towards GRB 050820A (z_GRB=2.615). The properties of the detected DLA galaxy are typical for Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs) at similar redshifts; a young, highly starforming galaxy that shows evidence for a galactic outflow. This supports the hypothesis that a DLA can be the gaseous halo of an LBG. In addition, we report a redshift coincidence of different objects associated with metal lines in the same field, separated by 130-161 kpc. The high detection rate of three correlated structures on a length scale as small as ~150 kpc in two pairs of lines of sight is intriguing. The absorbers in each of these are most likely not part of the same gravitationally bound structure. They more likely represent groups of galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Probing the IGM/Galaxy Connection V: On the Origin of Lya and OVI Absorption at z<0.2

We analyze the association of galaxies to Lya and OVI absorption, the most commonly detected transitions in the low-z intergalactic medium (IGM), in the fields of 14 quasars with z_em = 0.06-0.57. Confirming previous studies, we observe a high covering fraction for Lya absorption to impact parameter rho = 300kpc: 33/37 of our L>0.01L* galaxies show Lya equivalent width W_Lya>50mA. Galaxies of all luminosity L>0.01L* and spectral type are surrounded by a diffuse and ionized circumgalactic medium (CGM), whose baryonic mass is estimated at ~10^(10.5 +/- 0.3) Msun for a constant N_H. The virialized halos and extended CGM of present-day galaxies are responsible for most strong Lya absorbers (W_Lya > 300mA) but cannot reproduce the majority of observed lines in the Lya forest. We conclude that the majority of Lya absorption with W_Lya=30-300mA occurs in the cosmic web predicted by cosmological simulations and estimate a characteristic width for these filaments of ~400kpc. Regarding OVI, we observe a near unity covering fraction to rho=200kpc for L>0.1L* galaxies and to rho = 300kpc for sub-L* (0.1 L* 70mA) arise in the virialized halos of L>0.1L* galaxies. Unlike Lya, the weaker OVI systems (W_OVI~30mA) arise in the extended CGM of sub-L* galaxies. The majority of OVI gas observed in the low-z IGM is associated with a diffuse medium surrounding individual galaxies with L~0.3L*, and rarely originates in the so-called warm-hot IGM (WHIM) predicted by cosmological simulations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Probing the IGM/Galaxy Connection IV: The LCO/WFCCD Galaxy Survey of 20 Fields Surrounding UV Bright Quasars

We publish the survey for galaxies in 20 fields containing ultraviolet bright quasars (with z_em 0.1 to 0.5) that can be used to study the association between galaxies and absorption systems from the low-z intergalactic medium (IGM). The survey is magnitude limited (R~19.5 mag) and highly complete out to 10' from the quasar in each field. It was designed to detect dwarf galaxies (L ~ 0.1 L*) at an impact parameter rho 1Mpc (z=0.1) from a quasar. The complete sample (all 20 fields) includes R-band photometry for 84718 sources and confirmed redshifts for 2800 sources. This includes 1198 galaxies with 0.005 < z < (z_em - 0.01) at a median redshift of 0.18, which may associated with IGM absorption lines. All of the imaging was acquired with cameras on the Swope 40" telescope and the spectra were obtained via slitmask observations using the WFCCD spectrograph on the Dupont 100" telescope at Las Campanas Observatory (LCO). This paper describes the data reduction, imaging analysis, photometry, and spectral analysis of the survey. We tabulate the principal measurements for all sources in each field and provide the spectroscopic dataset online.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Host Galaxies of Swift Dark Gamma-Ray Bursts: Observational Constraints on Highly Obscured and Very High-Redshift GRBs

In this work we present the first results of our imaging campaign at Keck Observatory to identify the host galaxies of "dark" gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), events with no detected optical afterglow or with detected optical flux significantly fainter than expected from the observed X-ray afterglow. We find that out of a uniform sample of 29 Swift bursts rapidly observed by the Palomar 60-inch telescope through March 2008 (14 of which we classify as dark), all events have either a detected optical afterglow, a probable optical host-galaxy detection, or both. Our results constrain the fraction of Swift GRBs coming from very high redshift (z > 7), such as the recent GRB 090423, to between 0.2-7 percent at 80% confidence. In contrast, a significant fraction of the sample requires large extinction columns (host-frame A_V > 1 mag, with several events showing A_V > 2-6 mag), identifying dust extinction as the dominant cause of the dark GRB phenomenon. We infer that a significant fraction of GRBs (and, by association, of high-mass star formation) occurs in highly obscured regions. However, the host galaxies of dark GRBs seem to have normal optical colors, suggesting that the source of obscuring dust is local to the vicinity of the GRB progenitor or highly unevenly distributed within the host galaxy.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Low-Resolution Spectroscopy of Gamma-ray Burst Optical Afterglows: Biases in the Swift Sample and Characterization of the Absorbers

(Abridged). We present a sample of 77 optical afterglows (OAs) of Swift detected GRBs for which spectroscopic follow-up observations have been secured. We provide linelists and equivalent widths for all detected lines redward of Ly-alpha. We discuss to what extent the current sample of Swift bursts with OA spectroscopy is a biased subsample of all Swift detected GRBs. For that purpose we define an X-ray selected sample of Swift bursts with optimal conditions for ground-based follow up from the period March 2005 to September 2008; 146 bursts fulfill our sample criteria. We derive the redshift distribution for this sample and conclude that less than 19% of Swift bursts are at z>7. We compare the high energy properties for three sub-samples of bursts in the sample: i) bursts with redshifts measured from OA spectroscopy, ii) bursts with detected OA, but no OA-based redshift, and iii) bursts with no detection of the OA. The bursts in group i) have significantly less excess X-ray absorption than bursts in the other two groups. In addition, the fraction of dark bursts is 14% in group i), 38% in group ii) and > 39% in group iii). From this we conclude that the sample of GRBs with OA spectroscopy is not representative for all Swift bursts, most likely due to a bias against the most dusty sight-lines. Finally, we characterize GRB absorption systems as a class and compare them to QSO absorption systems, in particular DLAs. On average GRB absorbers are characterized by significantly stronger EWs for HI as well as for both low and high ionization metal lines than what is seen in intervening QSO absorbers. Based on the z>2 bursts in the sample we place a 95% confidence upper limit of 7.5% on the mean escape fraction of ionizing photons from star-forming galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

An Imaging and Spectroscopic Study of Four Strong MgII Absorbers Revealed By GRB060418

We present results from an imaging and spectroscopic study of four strong MgII absorbers of W(2796) >~ 1 Ang revealed by the afterglow of GRB060418 at z_GRB=1.491. These absorbers, at z=0.603,0.656,1.107 and z_GRB, exhibit large ion abundances that suggest neutral gas column densities characteristic of damped Lya systems. The imaging data include optical images obtained using LRIS on the Keck I telescope and using ACS on board HST, and near-infrared H-band images obtained using PANIC on the Magellan Baade Telescope and K'-band images obtained using NIRC2 with LGSAO on the Keck II telescope. These images reveal six distinct objects at <~ 3.5'' of the afterglow's position, two of which exhibit well-resolved mature disk morphology, one shows red colors, and three are blue compact sources. Follow-up spectroscopic observations using LRIS confirm that one of the disk galaxies coincides with the MgII absorber at z=0.656. The observed broad-band spectral energy distributions of the second disk galaxy and the red source indicate that they are associated with the absorbers at z=0.603 and z=1.107, respectively. These results show that strong MgII absorbers identified in GRB afterglow spectra are associated with typical galaxies of luminosity ~ (0.1-1) L* at impact parameter <~ 10 h^-1 kpc. The close angular separation would preclude easy detections toward a bright quasar. Finally, we associate the remaining three blue compact sources with the GRB host galaxy, noting that they are likely star-forming knots located at projected distances 2-12 h^-1 kpc from the afterglow. At the afterglow's position, we derive a 2-sigma upper limit to the underlying SFR intensity of 0.0074 M_sun yr^-1 kpc^-2.

astro-ph.CO↗