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E-XQR-30: the evolution of Mg ii, C ii, and O i across 2 < z < 6

Intervening metal absorbers in quasar spectra at z > 6 can be used as probes to study the chemical enrichment of the Universe during the Epoch of Reionization. This work presents the comoving line densities (dn/dX) of low-ionization absorbers, namely, Mg ii (2796 Å), C ii (1334 Å), and O  i (13...

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Main Authors: Sebastian, Alma Maria (Author) , Ryan-Weber, Emma (Author) , Davies, Rebecca L (Author) , Becker, George D (Author) , Keating, Laura C (Author) , D’Odorico, Valentina (Author) , Meyer, Romain A (Author) , Bosman, Sarah (Author) , Cupani, Guido (Author) , Kulkarni, Girish (Author) , Haehnelt, Martin G (Author) , Lai, Samuel (Author) , Eilers, Anna-Christina (Author) , Bischetti, Manuela (Author) , Gallerani, Simona (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: May 2024
In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Year: 2024, Volume: 530, Issue: 2, Pages: 1829-1848
ISSN:1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stae789
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae789
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Author Notes:Alma Maria Sebastian, Emma Ryan-Weber, Rebecca L Davies, George D Becker, Laura C Keating, Valentina D’Odorico, Romain A Meyer, Sarah E I Bosman, Guido Cupani, Girish Kulkarni, Martin G Haehnelt, Samuel Lai, Anna-Christina Eilers, Manuela Bischetti and Simona Gallerani
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Summary:Intervening metal absorbers in quasar spectra at z > 6 can be used as probes to study the chemical enrichment of the Universe during the Epoch of Reionization. This work presents the comoving line densities (dn/dX) of low-ionization absorbers, namely, Mg ii (2796 Å), C ii (1334 Å), and O  i (1302 Å) across 2 < z < 6 using the E-XQR-30 metal absorber catalogue prepared from 42 XSHOOTER quasar spectra at 5.8 < z < 6.6. Here, we analyse 280 Mg ii (1.9 < z < 6.4), 22 C ii (5.2 < z < 6.4), and 10 O i (5.3 < z < 6.4) intervening absorbers, thereby building up on previous studies with improved sensitivity of 50 per cent completeness at an equivalent width of W > 0.03 Å. For the first time, we present the comoving line densities of 131 weak (W < 0.3 Å) intervening Mg ii absorbers at 1.9 < z < 6.4 which exhibit constant evolution with redshift similar to medium (0.3 < W < 1.0 Å) absorbers. However, the cosmic mass density of Mg ii - dominated by strong Mg ii systems - traces the evolution of global star formation history from redshift 1.9 to 5.5. E-XQR-30 also increases the absorption path-length by a factor of 50 per cent for C ii and O i whose line densities show a rising trend towards z > 5, in agreement with previous works. In the context of a decline in the metal enrichment of the Universe at z > 5, the overall evolution in the incidence rates of absorption systems can be explained by a weak - possibly soft fluctuating - ultraviolet background. Our results, thereby, provide evidence for a late reionization continuing to occur in metal-enriched and therefore, biased regions in the Universe.
Item Description:Online veröffentlicht: 19. März 2024
Gesehen am 10.10.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stae789

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