8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 8098 Version: 5 Check-in Date: 24-Aug-1999 11:23:00 1.Proposal Title: Fe II emission lines as a chronometer for high-redshift quasars ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: Francis Keenan The Queen's University of Belfast CoI: Prof. Gary Ferland University of Kentucky N CoI: Prof. Dmitri Verner University of Kentucky N CoI: Ms. Katya Verner University of Kentucky N CoI: Prof. Phil Burke Queen's University of Belfast N CoI: Prof. Kenneth Bell Queen's University of Belfast N CoI: Dr. Cathy Ramsbottom Queen's University of Belfast N CoI: Dr. Brian Espey Space Telescope Science Institute N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract We request STIS observations of the symbiotic nova RR-TEL to give complete coverage of FeII emission lines in the 1150- 9800 Angstrom wavelength range. We have embarked on a long- term program to fully simulate the physical conditions within FeII- emitting gas, and predict the resulting spectrum. The first steps of generating the initial atomic database and incorporating it into the photoionization code Cloudy, are complete. Analysis of the FeII lines from RR-TEL using Cloudy will allow us to check the r eliability and completeness of the atomic data and processes considered, to investigate the sensitivity of emission to temperature and density variations, and to assess the importance of blending. Although emission lines from FeII are observed from a wide variety of astronomical objects, including protostellar disks, novae, supernovae, and quasars, these lines have been notoriously difficult to interpret because of the great complexity of the FeII energy level structure. We no w have the tools to quantify the abundances in these objects and, once calibrated against the RR-TEL data, we will apply the same technique to deduce iron abundances from FeII emission in high-redshift quasars. This, in conjunction with predictions of ste llar evolution and galactic nucleosynthesis, will result in a chronometer measuring the redshift when the universe passed through an age of 1 Gyr, thus constraining several cosmological parameters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ RR-TEL was observed extensively by IUE. Optical data exist from epochs 15 years before or after the UV data. However, there has never been a simultaneous UV and optical spectrum optical and UV data has made it impossible to form a single complete spectrum . HST GHRS data have been obtained, but exclude regions of strong FeII emission. These factors mitigate the usefulness of RR- TEL as a plasma physics laboratory. The object of this proposal is to obtain the definitive spectrum of this object, covering the UV through optical range with a modest investment of spacecraft time (3 orbits). The FeII template we can derive from these data will provide a vital check on the accuracy of our data and model, and provide the confidence that we can then apply the same a pproach to other astronomical sources. Our request can be reduced by one orbit if the optical data is not obtained, but the importance of the data for testing our FeII model and data, and the wide-ranging applicability of Fe II studies to other astrophysical objects argue in favor of retaining the total request. This source is bright, and the reddening is small. Intrinsic linewidths are about 35 km/s in this source. The fainter UV FeII lines have fluxes of ~ 5 10^(-12) erg/cm ^2/s/A. These will be resolved with a S/N of 10 when using STIS at the medium resolution. The brightest emission lines have peak fluxes of roughly 100 times larger, but only over a narrow wavelength range. The STIS exposure simulator confirms that the count rates per pixel is still a factor of three below the bright limit. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Paper Products: NO Media: ELECTRONIC Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: D. Verner, Physics & Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 Ship Via: Email: verner@pa.uky.edu PI_Address ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 RR-TEL STAR, SYMBIOTIC STAR, RA=20H 4M 18.52S +/- 0.03S, DEC= J2000 V = 11.4+/-0.5 NOVA-LIKE -55D 43' 33.2" +/- 0.5", PLATE- ID=02EB Comments: Coordinates are from GSC, photometry from recent visual estimate Epoch of Position RA proper motion (seconds of time/yr) DEC Proper Motion (arcsec/yr) Annual Parallax (arcsec) 1975.369 0.0 0.0 0.0 8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 RR-TEL STIS/C ACQ F25ND3 MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 1.5 S CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 RR-TEL STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E140M 1425 1 2500 S EXPAND MIN DUR 2000 S MAX UV-MAM DUR 4000 S A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 3165 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 15 S MIN DUR 10 S MAX DUR 17 S CD SEQ 3-9 NON-INT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 RR-TEL STIS/N ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 1978 1 1000 S MAX DUR 1400 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 3423 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 3680 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 3936 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 4194 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 4451 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 RR-TEL STIS/N ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 2707 1 700 S EXPAND MIN DUR 630 S MAX UV-MAM DUR 730 S SEQ 10-17 A NON-INT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 4706 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 4961 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 9 S MIN DUR 8 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 5216 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 9 S MIN DUR 8 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G430M 5471 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 9 S MIN DUR 8 S MAX DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 5] Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G750M 5734 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 4 S MIN DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G750M 6252 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 4 S MIN DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 RR-TEL STIS/C ACCUM 52X0.2 G750M 6768 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 4 S MIN DUR CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8098( 5) - 08/24/99 11:23 - [ 6] Summary Form for Proposal 8098 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F25ND3 0.2X0.2 52X0.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD STIS/FUV-MAMA STIS/NUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACQ ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ACQTYPE=POINT CR-SPLIT=NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements EXPAND MIN DUR 2000 S MAX DUR 4000 S MIN DUR 10 S MAX DUR 17 S SEQ 3-9 NON-INT MAX DUR 1400 S MIN DUR 9 S MAX DUR EXPAND MIN DUR 630 S MAX DUR 730 S SEQ 10-17 NON-INT MIN DUR 8 S MAX DUR MIN DUR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR E140M G430M E230M G750M ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names RR-TEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wavelengths 1425 3165 1978 3423 3680 3936 4194 4451 2707 4706 4961 5216 5471 5734 6252 6768 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------