TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ben Bekhti, Nadya
A1  - Winkel, B.
A1  - Richter, P.
A1  - Kerp, J.
A1  - Klein, U.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
T1  - An absorption-selected survey of neutral gas in the Milky Way halo New results based on a large sample of Ca II, Na I, and H I spectra towards QSOs
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Aims. We aim at analysing systematically the distribution and physical properties of neutral and mildly ionised gas in the Milky Way halo, based on a large absorption-selected data set.
 Methods. Multi-wavelength studies were performed combining optical absorption line data of Ca II and Na I with follow-up H I 21-cm emission line observations along 408 sight lines towards low-and high-redshift QSOs. We made use of archival optical spectra obtained with UVES/VLT. H I data were extracted from the Effelsberg-Bonn H I survey and the Galactic All-Sky survey. For selected sight lines we obtained deeper follow-up observations using the Effelsberg 100-m telescope.
 Results. Ca II (Na I) halo absorbers at intermediate and high radial velocities are present in 40-55% (20-35%) of the sightlines, depending on the column density threshold chosen. Many halo absorbers show multi-component absorption lines, indicating the presence of sub-structure. In 65% of the cases, absorption is associated with H I 21-cm emission. The Ca II (Na I) column density distribution function follows a power-law with a slope of beta approximate to -2.2 (-1.4).
 Conclusions. Our absorption-selected survey confirms our previous results that the Milky Way halo is filled with a large number of neutral gas structures whose high column density tail represents the population of common H I high-and intermediate-velocity clouds seen in 21-cm observations. We find that Na I/Ca II column density ratios in the halo absorbers are typically smaller than those in the Milky Way disc, in the gas in the Magellanic Clouds, and in damped Lyman a systems. The small ratios (prominent in particular in high-velocity components) indicate a lower level of Ca depletion onto dust grains in Milky Way halo absorbers compared to gas in discs and inner regions of galaxies.
KW  - Galaxy: halo
KW  - ISM: structure
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118673
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 542
IS  - 2
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bonifacio, P.
A1  - Rahmani, H.
A1  - Whitmore, J. B.
A1  - Wendt, Martin
A1  - Centurion, Martin
A1  - Molaro, P.
A1  - Srianand, R.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Petitjean, P.
A1  - Agafonova, I. I.
A1  - Evans, T. M.
A1  - Levshakov, S. A.
A1  - Lopez, S.
A1  - Martins, C. J. A. P.
A1  - Reimers, D.
A1  - Vladilo, G.
T1  - Fundamental constants and high-resolution spectroscopy
JF  - Astronomische Nachrichten = Astronomical notes
KW  - atomic processes
KW  - cosmology: observations
KW  - elementary particles
KW  - line: formation
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - techniques: spectroscopic
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201312005
SN  - 0004-6337
SN  - 1521-3994
VL  - 335
IS  - 1
SP  - 83
EP  - 91
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Fox, Andrew J.
A1  - Ben Bekhti, Nadya
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Bomans, Dominik J.
A1  - Frank, S.
T1  - High-resolution absorption spectroscopy of the circumgalactic medium of the Milky Way
JF  - Astronomische Nachrichten = Astronomical notes
KW  - Galaxy: halo
KW  - Galaxy: structure
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - techniques: spectroscopic
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201312013
SN  - 0004-6337
SN  - 1521-3994
VL  - 335
IS  - 1
SP  - 92
EP  - 98
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bouche, Nicolas
A1  - Finley, H.
A1  - Schroetter, I.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Bacon, Roland
A1  - Contini, Thierry
A1  - Richard, J.
A1  - Wendt, Martin
A1  - Kamann, S.
A1  - Epinat, Benoit
A1  - Cantalupo, Sebastiano
A1  - Straka, Lorrie A.
A1  - Schaye, Joop
A1  - Martin, C. L.
A1  - Peroux, C.
A1  - Wisotzki, Lutz
A1  - Soto, K.
A1  - Lilly, S.
A1  - Carollo, C. M.
A1  - Brinchmann, Jarle
A1  - Kollatschny, W.
T1  - POSSIBLE SIGNATURES OF A COLD-FLOW DISK FROM MUSE USING A z similar to 1
GALAXY-QUASAR PAIR TOWARD SDSS J1422-0001
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - We use a background quasar to detect the presence of circumgalactic gas around a z = 0.91 low-mass star-forming galaxy. Data from the new Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope show that the galaxy has a dust-corrected star formation rate (SFR) of 4.7 +/- 2.0. M-circle dot yr(-1), with no companion down to 0.22 M-circle dot yr(-1) (5 sigma) within 240 h(-1) kpc ("30"). Using a high-resolution spectrum of the background quasar, which is fortuitously aligned with the galaxy major axis (with an azimuth angle alpha of only 15 degrees), we find, in the gas kinematics traced by low-ionization lines, distinct signatures consistent with those expected for a "cold-flow disk" extending at least 12 kpc (3 x R-1/2). We estimate the mass accretion rate M-in to be at least two to three times larger than the SFR, using the geometric constraints from the IFU data and the H (I) column density of log N-H (I)/cm(-2) similar or equal to 20.4 obtained from a Hubble Space Telescope/COS near-UV spectrum. From a detailed analysis of the low-ionization lines (e.g., Zn II, Cr II, Ti II, MnII, Si II), the accreting material appears to be enriched to about 0.4 Z(circle dot) (albeit with large uncertainties: log Z/Z(circle dot) = -0.4 +/- 0.4), which is comparable to the galaxy metallicity (12 + log O/H = 8.7 +/- 0.2), implying a large recycling fraction from past outflows. Blueshifted Mg II and Fe II absorptions in the galaxy spectrum from the MUSE data reveal the presence of an outflow. The Mg II and Fe II absorption line ratios indicate emission infilling due to scattering processes, but the MUSE data do not show any signs of fluorescent Fe II* emission.
KW  - galaxies: evolution
KW  - galaxies: formation
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: individual (SDSS J142253.31-000149)
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/820/2/121
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
VL  - 820
SP  - 1872
EP  - 1882
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Krause, F.
A1  - Fechner, Cora
A1  - Charlton, Jane C.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
T1  - The neutral gas extent of galaxies as derived from weak intervening Ca II absorbers
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - We present a systematic study of weak intervening CaII absorbers at low redshift (z < 0.5), based on the analysis of archival high-resolution (R >= 45 000) optical spectra of 304 quasars and active galactic nuclei observed with VLT/UVES. Along a total redshift path of Delta z approximate to 100 we detected 23 intervening CaII absorbers in both the CaII H & K lines, with rest frame equivalent widths W-r,W-3934 = 15-799 m angstrom and column densities log N(CaII) = 11.25-13.04 (obtained by fitting Voigt-profile components). We obtain a bias-corrected number density of weak intervening CaII absorbers of dN/dz = 0.117 +/- 0.044 at < z(abs)> = 0.35 for absorbers with log N(CaII) >= 11.65 (W-r,W-3934 >= 32 m angstrom). This is similar to 2.6 times the value obtained for damped Lyman alpha absorbers (DLAs) at low redshift. All CaII absorbers in our sample show associated absorption by other low ions such as MgII and FeII; 45 percent of them have associated NaI absorption. From ionization modelling we conclude that intervening CaII absorption with log N(CaII) >= 11.5 arises in DLAs, sub-DLAs and Lyman-limit systems (LLS) at HI column densities of log N(HI) >= 17.4. Using supplementary HI information for nine of the absorbers we find that the CaII/HI ratio decreases strongly with increasing HI column density, indicating a column-density-dependent dust depletion of Ca. The observed column density distribution function of CaII absorption components follows a relatively steep power law, f(N) proportional to N-beta, with a slope of -beta = -1.68, which again points towards an enhanced dust depletion in high column density systems. The relatively large cross section of these absorbers together with the frequent detection of CaII absorption in high-velocity clouds (HVCs) in the halo of the Milky Way suggests that a considerable fraction of the intervening CaII systems trace (partly) neutral gas structures in the halos and circumgalactic environment of galaxies (i.e., they are HVC analogs). Based on the recently measured detection rate of CaII absorption in the Milky Way HVCs we estimate that the mean (projected) CaII covering fraction of galaxies and their gaseous halos is < f(c,CaII)> = 0.33. Using this value and considering all galaxies with luminosities L >= 0.05 L-star we calculate that the characteristic radial extent of (partly) neutral gas clouds with log N(HI) >= 17.4 around low-redshift galaxies is R-HVC approximate to 55 kpc.
KW  - galaxies: halos
KW  - galaxies: formation
KW  - galaxies: ISM
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201015566
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 528
IS  - 4
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rahmani, H.
A1  - Wendt, Martin
A1  - Srianand, R.
A1  - Noterdaeme, P.
A1  - Petitjean, P.
A1  - Molaro, P.
A1  - Whitmore, J. B.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Centurion, Martin
A1  - Fathivavsari, H.
A1  - D'Odorico, S.
A1  - Evans, T. M.
A1  - Levshakov, S. A.
A1  - Lopez, S.
A1  - Martins, C. J. A. P.
A1  - Reimers, D.
A1  - Vladilo, G.
T1  - The UVES large program for testing fundamental physics - II. Constraints on a change in mu towards quasar HE 0027-1836
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - We present an accurate analysis of the H-2 absorption lines from the z(abs) similar to 2.4018 damped Ly alpha system towards HE 0027-1836 observed with the Very Large Telescope Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (VLT/UVES) as a part of the European Southern Observatory Large Programme 'The UVES large programme for testing fundamental physics' to constrain the variation of proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu  m(p)/m(e). We perform cross-correlation analysis between 19 individual exposures taken over three years and the combined spectrum to check the wavelength calibration stability. We notice the presence of a possible wavelength-dependent velocity drift especially in the data taken in 2012. We use available asteroids spectra taken with UVES close to our observations to confirm and quantify this effect. We consider single-and two-component Voigt profiles to model the observed H-2 absorption profiles. We use both linear regression analysis and Voigt profile fitting where Delta mu/mu is explicitly considered as an additional fitting parameter. The two-component model is marginally favoured by the statistical indicators and we get Delta mu/mu = -2.5 +/- 8.1(stat) +/- 6.2(sys) ppm. When we apply the correction to the wavelength-dependent velocity drift, we find Delta mu/mu = -7.6 +/- 8.1(stat) +/- 6.3(sys) ppm. It will be important to check the extent to which the velocity drift we notice in this study is present in UVES data used for previous Delta mu/mu measurements.
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - quasars: individual: HE 0027-1836
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stt1356
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 435
IS  - 1
SP  - 861
EP  - 878
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Evans, T. M.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Whitmore, J. B.
A1  - Misawa, T.
A1  - Centurion, Martin
A1  - Lopez, S.
A1  - Martins, C. J. A. P.
A1  - Molaro, P.
A1  - Petitjean, P.
A1  - Rahmani, H.
A1  - Srianand, R.
A1  - Wendt, Martin
T1  - The UVES Large Program for testing fundamental physics - III. Constraints on the fine-structure constant from three telescopes
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - quasars: individual: HS 1549+1919
KW  - cosmology: miscellaneous
KW  - cosmology: observations
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stu1754
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 445
IS  - 1
SP  - 128
EP  - 150
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Molaro, P.
A1  - Centurion, Martin
A1  - Whitmore, J. B.
A1  - Evans, T. M.
A1  - Murphy, M. T.
A1  - Agafonova, I. I.
A1  - Bonifacio, P.
A1  - D'Odorico, S.
A1  - Levshakov, S. A.
A1  - Lopez, S.
A1  - Martins, C. J. A. P.
A1  - Petitjean, P.
A1  - Rahmani, H.
A1  - Reimers, D.
A1  - Srianand, R.
A1  - Vladilo, G.
A1  - Wendt, Martin
T1  - The UVES Large Program for testing fundamental physics I. Bounds on a change in alpha towards quasar HE 221-2818
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. Absorption-line systems detected in quasar spectra can be used to compare the value of the fine-structure constant, alpha, measured today on Earth with its value in distant galaxies. In recent years, some evidence has emerged of small temporal and also spatial variations in alpha on cosmological scales. These variations may reach a fractional level of approximate to 10 ppm (parts per million).
 Aims. To test these claims we are conducting a Large Program of observations with the Very Large Telescope's Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES), and are obtaining high-resolution (R approximate to 60 000) and high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N approximate to 100) UVES spectra calibrated specifically for this purpose. Here we analyse the first complete quasar spectrum from this programme, that of HE 2217-2818.
 Methods. We applied the many multiplet method to measure alpha in five absorption systems towards this quasar: z(abs) = 0.7866, 0.9424, 1.5558, 1.6279, and 1.6919.
 Results. The most precise result is obtained for the absorber at z(abs) = 1.6919 where 3 Fe II transitions and Al II lambda 1670 have high S/N and provide a wide range of sensitivities to alpha. The absorption profile is complex with several very narrow features, and it requires 32 velocity components to be fitted to the data. We also conducted a range of tests to estimate the systematic error budget. Our final result for the relative variation in alpha in this system is Delta alpha/alpha = +1.3 +/- 2.4(stat) +/- 1.0(sys) ppm. This is one of the tightest current bounds on alpha-variation from an individual absorber. A second, separate approach to the data reduction, calibration, and analysis of this system yielded a slightly different result of -3.8 +/- 2.1(stat) ppm, possibly suggesting a larger systematic error component than our tests indicated. This approach used an additional 3 Fe II transitions, parts of which were masked due to contamination by telluric features. Restricting this analysis to the Fe II transitions alone and using a modified absorption profile model gave a result that is consistent with the first approach, Delta alpha/alpha = +1.1 +/- 2.6(stat) ppm. The four other absorbers have simpler absorption profiles, with fewer and broader features, and offer transitions with a narrower range of sensitivities to alpha. They therefore provide looser bounds on Delta alpha/alpha at the greater than or similar to 10 ppm precision level.
 Conclusions. The absorbers towards quasar HE 2217-2818 reveal no evidence of any variation in alpha at the 3-ppm precision level (1 sigma confidence). If the recently reported 10-ppm dipolar variation in alpha across the sky is correct, the expectation at this sky position is (3.2-5.4) +/- 1.7 ppm depending on dipole model used. Our constraint of Delta alpha/alpha = +1.3 +/- 2.4(stat) +/- 1.0(sys) ppm is not inconsistent with this expectation.
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - quasars: individual: HE 2217-2818
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - cosmology: miscellaneous cosmology
KW  - observations
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201321351
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 555
IS  - 4
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  -