TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abramowski, Attila
A1  - Aharonian, Felix A.
A1  - Benkhali, Faical  Ait
A1  - Akhperjanian, A. G.
A1  - Angüner, Ekrem Oǧuzhan
A1  - Anton, Gisela
A1  - Backes, Michael
A1  - Balenderan, Shangkari
A1  - Balzer, Arnim
A1  - Barnacka, Anna
A1  - Becherini, Yvonne
A1  - Tjus, J. Becker
A1  - Bernlöhr, K.
A1  - Birsin, E.
A1  - Bissaldi, E.
A1  - Biteau, Jonathan
A1  - Boettcher, Markus
A1  - Boisson, Catherine
A1  - Bolmont, J.
A1  - Bordas, Pol
A1  - Brucker, J.
A1  - Brun, Francois
A1  - Brun, Pierre
A1  - Bulik, Tomasz
A1  - Carrigan, Svenja
A1  - Casanova, Sabrina
A1  - Chadwick, Paula M.
A1  - Chalme-Calvet, R.
A1  - Chaves, Ryan C. G.
A1  - Cheesebrough, A.
A1  - Chretien, M.
A1  - Colafrancesco, Sergio
A1  - Cologna, Gabriele
A1  - Conrad, Jan
A1  - Couturier, C.
A1  - Cui, Y.
A1  - Djannati-Ataï, A.
A1  - Domainko, W.
A1  - Dubus, G.
A1  - Dutson, K.
A1  - Dyks, J.
A1  - Dyrda, M.
A1  - Edwards, T.
A1  - Egberts, Kathrin
A1  - Eger, P.
A1  - Espigat, P.
A1  - Farnier, C.
A1  - Fegan, S.
A1  - Feinstein, F.
A1  - Fernandes, M. V.
A1  - Fernandez, D.
A1  - Fiasson, A.
A1  - Fontaine, G.
A1  - Foerster, A.
A1  - Fussling, Matthias
A1  - Gajdus, M.
A1  - Gallant, Y. A.
A1  - Garrigoux, T.
A1  - Giavitto, G.
A1  - Giebels, B.
A1  - Glicenstein, J. F.
A1  - Grondin, M. -H.
A1  - Grudzinska, M.
A1  - Haeffner, S.
A1  - Hahn, J.
A1  - Harris, J.
A1  - Heinzelmann, G.
A1  - Henri, G.
A1  - Hermann, G.
A1  - Hervet, O.
A1  - Hillert, A.
A1  - Hinton, James Anthony
A1  - Hofmann, W.
A1  - Hofverberg, P.
A1  - Holler, M.
A1  - Horns, D.
A1  - Jacholkowska, A.
A1  - Jahn, C.
A1  - Jamrozy, M.
A1  - Janiak, M.
A1  - Jankowsky, F.
A1  - Jung, I.
A1  - Kastendieck, M. A.
A1  - Katarzynski, K.
A1  - Katz, U.
A1  - Kaufmann, S.
A1  - Khelifi, B.
A1  - Kieffer, M.
A1  - Klepser, S.
A1  - Klochkov, D.
A1  - Kluzniak, W.
A1  - Kneiske, T.
A1  - Kolitzus, D.
A1  - Komin, Nu.
A1  - Kosack, K.
A1  - Krakau, S.
A1  - Krayzel, F.
A1  - Krueger, P. P.
A1  - Laffon, H.
A1  - Lamanna, G.
A1  - Lefaucheur, J.
A1  - Lemiere, A.
A1  - Lemoine-Goumard, M.
A1  - Lenain, J. -P.
A1  - Lohse, T.
A1  - Lopatin, A.
A1  - Lu, C. -C.
A1  - Marandon, V.
A1  - Marcowith, Alexandre
A1  - Marx, R.
A1  - Maurin, G.
A1  - Maxted, N.
A1  - Mayer, M.
A1  - McComb, T. J. L.
A1  - Mehault, J.
A1  - Meintjes, P. J.
A1  - Menzler, U.
A1  - Meyer, M.
A1  - Moderski, R.
A1  - Mohamed, M.
A1  - Moulin, Emmanuel
A1  - Murach, T.
A1  - Naumann, C. L.
A1  - de Naurois, M.
A1  - Niemiec, J.
A1  - Nolan, S. J.
A1  - Oakes, L.
A1  - Odaka, H.
A1  - Ohm, S.
A1  - Wilhelmi, E. de Ona
A1  - Opitz, B.
A1  - Ostrowski, M.
A1  - Oya, I.
A1  - Panter, M.
A1  - Parsons, R. D.
A1  - Arribas, M. Paz
A1  - Pekeur, N. W.
A1  - Pelletier, G.
A1  - Perez, J.
A1  - Petrucci, P. -O.
A1  - Peyaud, B.
A1  - Pita, S.
A1  - Poon, H.
A1  - Puehlhofer, G.
A1  - Punch, M.
A1  - Quirrenbach, A.
A1  - Raab, S.
A1  - Raue, M.
A1  - Reichardt, I.
A1  - Reimer, A.
A1  - Reimer, O.
A1  - Renaud, M.
A1  - Reyes, R. de los
A1  - Rieger, F.
A1  - Rob, L.
A1  - Romoli, C.
A1  - Rosier-Lees, S.
A1  - Rowell, G.
A1  - Rudak, B.
A1  - Rulten, C. B.
A1  - Sahakian, V.
A1  - Sanchez, David M.
A1  - Santangelo, A.
A1  - Schlickeiser, R.
A1  - Schuessler, F.
A1  - Schulz, A.
A1  - Schwanke, U.
A1  - Schwarzburg, S.
A1  - Schwemmer, S.
A1  - Sol, H.
A1  - Spengler, G.
A1  - Spies, F.
A1  - Stawarz, L.
A1  - Steenkamp, R.
A1  - Stegmann, Christian
A1  - Stinzing, F.
A1  - Stycz, K.
A1  - Sushch, Iurii
A1  - Tavernet, J. -P.
A1  - Tavernier, T.
A1  - Taylor, A. M.
A1  - Terrier, R.
A1  - Tluczykont, M.
A1  - Trichard, C.
A1  - Valerius, K.
A1  - van Eldik, C.
A1  - van Soelen, B.
A1  - Vasileiadis, G.
A1  - Venter, C.
A1  - Viana, A.
A1  - Vincent, P.
A1  - Voelk, H. J.
A1  - Volpe, F.
A1  - Vorster, M.
A1  - Vuillaume, T.
A1  - Wagner, S. J.
A1  - Wagner, P.
A1  - Wagner, R. M.
A1  - Ward, M.
A1  - Weidinger, M.
A1  - Weitzel, Q.
A1  - White, R.
A1  - Wierzcholska, A.
A1  - Willmann, P.
A1  - Woernlein, A.
A1  - Wouters, D.
A1  - Yang, R.
A1  - Zabalza, V.
A1  - Zacharias, M.
A1  - Zdziarski, A. A.
A1  - Zech, Alraune
A1  - Zechlin, H. -S.
A1  - Malyshev, D.
T1  - Search for extended gamma-ray emission around AGN with HESS and Fermi-LAT
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. Very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from blazars inevitably gives rise to electron-positron pair production through the interaction of these gamma-rays with the extragalactic background light (EBL). Depending on the magnetic fields in the proximity of the source, the cascade initiated from pair production can result in either an isotropic halo around an initially- beamed source or a magnetically- broadened cascade :aux.
 Aims. Both extended pair-halo (PH) and magnetically broadened cascade (MBC) emission from regions surrounding the blazars 1ES 1101-232, IRS 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 were searched for using VHE y-ray data taken with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS.) and high-energy (HE; 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) gamma-ray data with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT).
 Methods. By comparing the angular distributions of the reconstructed gamma-ray events to the angular profiles calculated from detailed theoretical models, the presence of PH and MBC was investigated.
 Results. Upper limits on the extended emission around lES 1101-232, lES 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 are found to be at a level of a few per cent of the Crab nebula flux above 1 TeV, depending on the assumed photon index of the cascade emission. Assuming strong extra-Galactic magnetic field (EGME) values, >10(-12) G, this limits the production of pair haloes developing from electromagnetic cascades. For weaker magnetic fields, in which electromagnetic cascades would result in MBCs. EGMF strengths in the range (0.3-3) x 10(-15) G were excluded for PKS 2155-304 at the 99% confidence level, under the assumption of a 1 Mpc coherence length.
KW  - gamma rays: galaxies
KW  - galaxies: magnetic fields
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - BL Lacertae objects: individual: PKS 2155-304
KW  - BL Lacertae objects: individual: lES 1101-232
KW  - BL Lacertae objects: individual: lES 0229+200
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322510
SN  - 0004-6361
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 562
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Becker, George D.
A1  - D'Aloisio, Anson
A1  - Christenson, Holly M.
A1  - Zhu, Yongda
A1  - Worseck, Gábor
A1  - Bolton, James S.
T1  - The mean free path of ionizing photons at 5 < z < 6
BT  - evidence for rapid evolution near reionization
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - The mean free path of ionizing photons, lambda(mfp), is a key factor in the photoionization of the intergalactic medium (IGM). At z greater than or similar to 5, however, lambda(mfp) may be short enough that measurements towards QSOs are biased by the QSO proximity effect. We present new direct measurements of lambda(mfp) that address this bias and extend up to z similar to 6 for the first time. Our measurements at z similar to 5 are based on data from the Giant Gemini GMOS survey and new Keck LRIS observations of low-luminosity QSOs. At z similar to 6 we use QSO spectra from Keck ESI and VLT X-Shooter. We measure lambda(mfp) = 9.09(-1.28)(+1.62) proper Mpc and 0.75(-0.45)(+0.65) proper Mpc (68 percent confidence) at z = 5.1 and 6.0, respectively. The results at z = 5.1 are consistent with existing measurements, suggesting that bias from the proximity effect is minor at this redshift. At z = 6.0, however, we find that neglecting the proximity effect biases the result high by a factor of two or more. Our measurement at z = 6.0 falls well below extrapolations from lower redshifts, indicating rapid evolution in lambda(mfp) over 5 < z < 6. This evolution disfavours models in which reionization ended early enough that the IGM had time to fully relax hydrodynamically by z = 6, but is qualitatively consistent with models wherein reionization completed at z = 6 or even significantly later. Our mean free path results are most consistent with late reionization models wherein the IGM is still 20 percent neutral at z = 6, although our measurement at z = 6.0 is even lower than these models prefer.
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - cosmology: observations
KW  - dark ages
KW  - large-scale structure of Universe
KW  - reionization
KW  - first stars
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab2696
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 508
IS  - 2
SP  - 1853
EP  - 1869
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
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  - Bouma, Sietske Jeltje Deirdre
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Wendt, Martin
T1  - The relation between Ly alpha absorbers and local galaxy filaments
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. The intergalactic medium (IGM) is believed to contain the majority of baryons in the universe and to trace the same dark matter structure as galaxies, forming filaments and sheets. Ly alpha absorbers, which sample the neutral component of the IGM, have been extensively studied at low and high redshift, but the exact relation between Ly alpha absorption, galaxies, and the large-scale structure is observationally not well constrained.Aims. In this study, we aim at characterising the relation between Ly alpha absorbers and nearby over-dense cosmological structures (galaxy filaments) at recession velocities Delta v <= 6700 km s(-1) by using archival observational data from various instruments.Methods. We analyse 587 intervening Ly alpha absorbers in the spectra of 302 extragalactic background sources obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) installed on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We combine the absorption line information with galaxy data of five local galaxy filaments from the V8k catalogue.Results. Along the 91 sightlines that pass close to a filament, we identify 215 (227) Ly alpha absorption systems (components). Among these, 74 Ly alpha systems are aligned in position and velocity with the galaxy filaments, indicating that these absorbers and the galaxies trace the same large-scale structure. The filament-aligned Ly alpha absorbers have a similar to 90% higher rate of incidence (d?/dz=189 for log N(HI) >= 13.2) and a slightly shallower column density distribution function slope (-beta=-1.47) relative to the general Ly alpha population at z=0, reflecting the filaments' matter over-density. The strongest Ly alpha absorbers are preferentially found near galaxies or close to the axis of a filament, although there is substantial scatter in this relation. Our sample of absorbers clusters more strongly around filament axes than a randomly distributed sample would do (as confirmed by a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), but the clustering signal is less pronounced than for the galaxies in the filaments.
KW  - galaxies: halos
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - large-scale structure of Universe
KW  - techniques: spectroscopic
KW  - ultraviolet: general
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202039786
SN  - 0004-6361
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 647
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chen, Hsiao-Wen
A1  - Johnson, Sean D.
A1  - Straka, Lorrie A.
A1  - Zahedy, Fakhri S.
A1  - Schaye, Joop
A1  - Muzahid, Sowgat
A1  - Bouche, Nicolas
A1  - Cantalupo, Sebastiano
A1  - Marino, Raffaella Anna
A1  - Wendt, Martin
T1  - Characterizing circumgalactic gas around massive ellipticals at z approximate to 0.4-III.
BT  - the galactic environment of a chemically pristine Lyman limit absorber
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - This paper presents a study of the galactic environment of a chemically pristine (<0.6 per cent solar metallicity) Lyman Limit system (LLS) discovered along the sightline towards QSO SDSSJ 135726.27+043541.4 (Z(QSO) = 1.233) at projected distance d = 126 physical kpc (pkpc) from a luminous red galaxy (LRG) at z = 0.33. Combining deep Hubble Space Telescope images, MUSE integral field spectroscopic data, and wide-field redshift survey data has enabled an unprecedented, ultradeep view of the environment around this LRG-LLS pair. A total of 12 galaxies, including the LRG, are found at d less than or similar to 400 pkpc and line-of-sight velocity Delta v < 600 km S-1 of the LLS, with intrinsic luminosity ranging from 0.001 L-* to 2 L-* and a corresponding stellar mass range of M-star approximate to 10(7-11) M-circle dot. All 12 galaxies contribute to a total mass of M-star = 1.6 x 10(11) M-circle dot with approximate to 80 per cent contained in the LRG. The line-of-sight velocity dispersion of these galaxies is found to be sigma (group) = 230 km s(-1) with the centre of mass at d(group) = 118 pkpc and line-of-sight velocity offset of Delta v(group) = 181 km s(-1) from the LLS. Three of these are located at d less than or similar to 100 pkpc from the LLS, and they are all faint with intrinsic luminosity less than or similar to 0.02 L-* and gas-phase metallicity of approximate to 10 per cent solar in their interstellar medium. The disparity in the chemical enrichment level between the LLS and the group members suggests that the LLS originates in infalling intergalactic medium and that parts of the intergalactic gas near old and massive galaxies can still remain chemically pristine through the not too distant past.
KW  - galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD
KW  - galaxies: formation
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty3513
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 484
IS  - 1
SP  - 431
EP  - 441
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Draganova, Nadya
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Fechner, Cora
T1  - High-resolution observations of two O VI absorbers at z approximate to 2 toward PKS 1448-232
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - To explore the ionization conditions in highly-ionized absorbers at high redshift, we study in detail two intervening O vi absorbers at z approximate to 2 toward the quasar PKS 1448-232, based on high (R approximate to 75 000) and intermediate (R approximate to 45 000) resolution optical VLT/UVES spectra. We find that both absorption systems are composed of several narrow subcomponents with typical Civ/O VI Doppler-parameters of b < 10 km s(-1). This implies that the gas temperatures are T < 10(5) K and that the absorbers are photoionized by the UV background. The system at z = 2.1098 represents a simple, isolated O VI absorber that has only two absorption components and is relatively metal-rich (Z similar to 0.6 solar). Ioinization modeling implies that the system is photoionized with O VI, C IV, and H I coexisting in the same gas phase. The second system at z = 2.1660 represents a complicated, multi-component absorption system with eight O VI components spanning almost 300 km s(-1) in radial velocity. The photoionization modeling implies that the metallicity is non-uniform and relatively low (<= 0.1 solar) and that the O VI absorption must arise in a gas phase that differs from that traced by C IV, C III, and H I. Our detailed study of the two O VI systems towards PKS 1448-232 shows that multi-phase, multi-component high-ion absorbers similar to the one at z = 2.1660 can be described by applying a detailed ionization modeling of the various subcomponents to obtain reliable measurements of the physical conditions and the metal abundances in the gas.
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - cosmology: observations
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201116730
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 538
IS  - 1
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
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  - Fechner, Cora
T1  - Reconstructing the intergalactic UV background with QSO absorption lines
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - We present a new approach to observationally constraining the spectral energy distribution of the intergalactic UV background by studying metal absorption systems. We study single-component metal line systems that exhibit various well-measured species. Among the observed transitions, at least two ratios of ionization stages from the same element are required, e. g. C III/C IV and Si III/Si IV. For each system photoionization models are constructed by varying the spectrum of the ionizing radiation. The spectral energy distribution can then be constrained by comparing the models with the observed column density ratios. Extensive tests with artificial absorbers show that the spectrum of the ionizing radiation cannot be reconstructed unambiguously, but it is possible to constrain the main characteristics of the spectrum. Furthermore, the resulting physical parameters of the absorber, such as ionization parameter, metallicity, and relative abundances, may depend strongly on the adopted ionizing spectrum. Even in case of well-fitting models, the uncertainties can be as high as similar to 0.5 dex for the ionization parameter and up to similar to 1.5 dex for the metallicity. Therefore, it is essential to know the hardness of the UV background when estimating the metallicity of the intergalactic medium. Applying the procedure to a small sample of 3 observed single-component metal line systems yields a soft ionizing radiation at z > 2 and a slightly harder spectrum at z < 2. The resulting energy distributions exhibit strong He II Lya re-emission features, suggesting that reprocessing by intergalactic He II is important. Comparing the observed systems to UV background spectra from the literature indicates that a recent model that includes sawtooth modulation due to reprocessing by intergalactic He II with delayed helium reionization fits the investigated systems very well.
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - diffuse radiation
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117080
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 532
IS  - 2
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Guber, Christoph R.
A1  - Richter, Philipp
T1  - Dust depletion of Ca and Ti in QSO absorption-line systems
JF  - Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews : Water
N2  - Aims. To explore the role of titanium-and calcium-dust depletion in gas in and around galaxies, we systematically study Ti/Ca abundance ratios in intervening absorption-line systems at low and high redshift. Methods. We investigate high-resolution optical spectra obtained by the UVES instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and spectroscopically analyze 34 absorption-line systems at z <= 0.5 to measure column densities (or limits) for Ca II and Ti II. We complement our UVES data set with previously published absorption-line data on Ti/Ca for redshifts up to z similar to 3.8. Our absorber sample contains 110 absorbers including damped Lyman alpha systems (DLAs), sub-DLAs, and Lyman-Limit systems (LLS). We compare our Ti/Ca findings with results from the MilkyWay and the Magellanic Clouds and discuss the properties of Ti/Ca absorbers in the general context of quasar absorption-line systems. Results. Our analysis indicates that there are two distinct populations of absorbers with either high or low Ti/Ca ratios with a separation at [Ti/Ca] approximate to 1. While the calcium-dust depletion in most of the absorbers appears to be severe, the titanium depletions are mild in systems with high Ti/Ca ratios. The derived trend indicates that absorbers with high Ti/Ca ratios have dust-to-gas ratios that are substantially lower than in the Milky Way. We characterize the overall nature of the absorbers by correlating Ti/Ca with other observables (e.g., metallicity, velocity-component structure) and by modeling the ionization properties of singly-ionized Ca and Ti in different environments. Conclusions. We conclude that Ca II and Ti II bearing absorption-line systems trace predominantly neutral gas in the disks and inner halo regions of galaxies, where the abundance of Ca and Ti reflects the local metal and dust content of the gas. Our study suggests that the Ti/Ca ratio represents a useful measure for the gas-to-dust ratio and overall metallicity in intervening absorption-line systems.
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - dust, extinction
KW  - galaxies: abundances
KW  - galaxies: ISM
KW  - intergalactic medium
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201628466
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 591
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Guber, Christoph Rudolf
A1  - Richter, Philipp
A1  - Wendt, Martin
T1  - Multiple origins for the DLA at zabs = 0.313 toward PKS 1127–145 indicated by a complex dust depletion pattern of Ca, Ti, and Mn
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Aims:
We aim to investigate the dust depletion properties of optically thick gas in and around galaxies and its origin we study in detail the dust depletion patterns of Ti, Mn, and Ca in the multi-component damped Lyman alpha (DLA) absorber at z(abs) = 0.313 toward the quasar PKS 1127-145. Methods:
We performed a detailed spectral analysis of the absorption profiles of Ca II, Mn II, TIII, and Na I associated with the DLA toward PKS 1127-145, based on optical high-resolution data obtained with the UVES instrument at the Very Large Telescope. We obtained column densities and Doppler-parameters for the ions listed above and determine their gas-phase abundances, from which we conclude on their dust depletion properties. We compared the Ca and Ti depletion properties of this DLA with that of other DLAs. 
Results:
One of the six analyzed absorption components (component 3) shows a striking underabundance of Ti and Mn in the gas-phase, indicating the effect of dust depletion for these elements and a locally enhanced dust-to-gas ratio. In this DLA and in other similar absorbers, the Mn II abundance follows that of Ti II very closely, implying that both ions are equally sensitive to the dust depletion effects. 
Conclusions:
Our analysis indicates that the DLA toward PKS 1127 145 has multiple origins. With its narrow line width and its strong dust depletion, component 3 points toward the presence of a neutral gas disk from a faint LSB galaxy in front of PKS 1127 145, while the other, more diffuse and dust-poor, absorption components possibly are related to tidal gas features from the interaction between the various, optically confirmed galaxy-group members. In general, the Mn/Ca II ratio in sub-DLAs and DLAs possibly serves as an important indicator to discriminate between dust-rich and dust-poor in neutral gas in and around galaxies.
KW  - quasars: absorption lines
KW  - galaxies: abundances
KW  - intergalactic medium
KW  - quasars: individual: PKS1127-145
KW  - dust, extinction
KW  - ISM: kinematics and dynamics
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201730984
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 609
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  -