6314( 0) - 07/18/95 21:58 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 6314 Version: ********** Check-in Date: ********** 1.Proposal Title: THE LEVEL OF IONIZATION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF QSO BAL REGION GAS - REPEAT FOR HOPR 230 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Cycle Quasars GO 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: DAVID A. TURNSHEK UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CoI: BRIAN R. ESPEY UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH N CoI: RAY J. WEYMANN MT WILSON & LAS CAMPANAS OBSERVATORY N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract FROM PROGRAM 5455: About 10% of all radio quiet QSOs exhibit broad absorption lines (BALs) in their spectra. The BALs come from a mostly highly ionized region outflowing from the central source at speeds up to many tens of thousands of km/s. Observational constraints on models require that the covering factor of the BAL region be small (e.g., normally < 0.2), therefore many QSOs must have BAL regions which do not lie along our lines-of-sight. For assumptions which should reasonably apply to BAL regions, accurate (algorithm independent) ionic column densities can be derived as a function of outflow velocity for BAL gas. This is unlike the case for broad emission lines in QSOs, which at any observed velocity originates in various components with a range of ionizations. Based on column density analyses, evidence suggests that the chemical composition of the BAL region gas is enhanced by factors of 10 to 100 or more times solar values. Since this conclusion is remarkable, we propose to carefully checked it. One possible problem is that our assumptions about the ability of BAL gas to cover the central source are not universally correct. Another problem with past analyses is that different ionic species of the same element in an object have not been studied. We will remedy these problems by observing the UV spectrum of three specially selected BAL QSOs which currently show the best evidence for enhanced abundances. Constraints on the ionization and chemical composition of the BAL region gas will be derived using Ferland's photoionization code. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6314( 0) - 07/18/95 21:58 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ FROM PRGRAM 5455: We propose HST observations of 4 QSOs using the FOS G270H mode in order to study the strength and shape of BAL profiles that fall in the spectral region below 3200 Angstroms. The observation of each object can be made during a single visit. The signal-to-noise ratio attained near continuum regions will be approximately 30 per resolution element with resolution R=1300 (4 pixels per resolution element with 1/4 diode substeps). Exposure times range from 34 minutes to 54 minutes. In addition we will observe 6 QSOs using the FOS G160L mode in order to follow the shapes of the continuous energy distributions into the far UV. The signal-to-noise ratio attained near continuum regions at about 1600 Angstroms will be 10 per resolution element with resolution R=200 (4 pixels per resolution element with 1/4 diode substeps), which will be adequate for our purpose. THIS PROGRAM REPEATS 1 FAILED OBSERVATION FROM PROGRAM 5455. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: UPS Email: , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6314( 0) - 07/18/95 21:58 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 Q0932+5006 GALAXY, QSO, Radio RA = 9H 35M 53.01S +/- .1S, DEC 2000 Z = 1.92 V = 17.24 B-V = 0.16 F-CONT(1600) = 8.6 Quiet = +49D 53' 13.8" +/- .1S, PLATE- E-16 ID=00T8 Comments: PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED WITH HST 6314( 0) - 07/18/95 21:58 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Q0932+5006 FOS/RD ACQ/BIN 4.3 MIRROR 1 14.6S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 8 ARY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 Q0932+5006 FOS/RD ACCUM 1.0 G160L 1 1200S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6314( 0) - 07/18/95 21:58 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 6314 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations FOS/RD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACQ/BINARY ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category Quasars ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements ONBOARD ACQ FOR 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR G160L ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names Q0932+5006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------