9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 9137 Version: 4 Check-in Date: 29-Oct-2001 14:35:24 1.Proposal Title: Quasar Absorbers and Large Scale Structure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: Chris Impey University of Arizona CoI: Ms. Cathy Petry University of Arizona N CoI: Dr. Romeel Dave Princeton University N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract We propose STIS spectroscopy of 15 bright (V < 18) quasars in a 22 square degree region that has well-sampled galaxy redshifts. This is a unique asterism of quasars of this brightness. The spectra will yield ~183 Lyman-alpha absorbers, ~119 of which will be in the range 0 < z < 0.2, with rest equivalent widths complete to ~0.21 Angstroms. This grid of probes will allow the most sensitive test of absorber- absorber and absorber- galaxy clustering ever. On the typical transverse scales between lines of sight of 1-2 h_100^-1 Mpc, we will be able to detect absorber- absorber correlation that is 10-20 times weaker than galaxy-galaxy correlations. With a typical number of absorbers per sightline of ~13, the ~630 h_100^-1 Mpc depth of the volume can be used to locate absorbers with respect to sheets and voids in the galaxy distribution. The coherence length and correlation strength of the absorbers will be compared against cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of the local universe, using similar methods to select absorption lines in the data and the simulations. The quasar spectra can be used to directly measure the power spectrum of fluctuations on scales of 1-10 h_100^-1 Mpc, and the quiescence of the cosmic velocity field on scales of 1-2 h_100^-1 Mpc. Lyman- alpha absorbers are expected to trace the underlying dark matter potential, and their use in measuring large scale structure is an important complement to the use of galaxy redshift surveys. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ Instrumental Configuration: The design of this experiment is governed by the goal of achieving the maximum number of absorption probes in a limited area of sky that has excellent coverage in a galaxy redshift survey. The limited space density of quasars bright enough for a moderate signal to noise STIS spectrum provides the practical limitation. The choice of grating is driven by the trade -offs between throughput, resolution and pathlength. Observing Lyman-alpha at 0 18.3 and so are too faint for HST spectroscopy in reasonable integration times. There is a chance that the UV flux from a particular line of sight to a quasar will be completely absorbed by an intervening Lyman-alpha limit system (LLS). This probability is computed as a function of redshift using the fitted coefficients to the evolution of such systems at low redshift (Stengler-Larrea et al. 1995, ApJ 444, 64). We find that a z_qso=1.1 quasar has a 3% chance of having the UV flux totally absorbed somewhere in the wavelength region corresponding to Lyman- alpha absorption at 0 0.5. For the best estimate of a template quasar spectrum, we concatenated the HST composite spectrum (heavily smoothed for wavelengths less than about 1000 Angstroms) with a composite spectrum from the Large Bright Quasar Survey (Francis et al. 1991, Ap.J., 373, 465), normalizing them to overlap at the tail of the HST spectrum which lies at about 3000 Angstroms. The template thus uses the HST composite in the rest UV, and the LBQS to tether to the V band; in this way similarly low redshift quasars are used throughout. A comparison of this template with the STIS ETC model spectrum shows that the two overlap for wavelengths shorter than Lyman-alpha emission and longer than about 3000 Angstroms, with the STIS ETC model spectrum having slightly higher flux between these two points. Therefore, we chose to use the ETC QSO model spectrum, smoothing the continuum blueward of Lyman-alpha emission, as the best model of the quasar continuum flux. Exposure times were computed for each quasar by redshifting this model spectrum to that of the target QSO and making it available for use as a ``User Supplied Spectrum'' by the STIS ETC. An exposure time is selected for each quasar such that the resulting spectra have a SNR that gives a similar equivalent width limit over the range 0 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 IRAS00275-2 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S 859 CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 IRAS00275-2 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S 859 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 IRAS00275-2 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S 859 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 6] Visit: 02 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0040-3024 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0040-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0040-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0040-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 7] Visit: 03 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0041-2904 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0041-2904 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0041-2904 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0041-2904 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 Q0041-2904 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 8] Visit: 04 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0043-2923 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 5 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0043-2923 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 9] Visit: 05 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0045-3045 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0045-3045 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0045-3045 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0045-3045 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 Q0045-3045 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 10] Visit: 06 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CT120 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 CT120 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 CT120 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 CT120 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 11] Visit: 07 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 PHL3029 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 PHL3029 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 PHL3029 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 PHL3029 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 PHL3029 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 12] Visit: 08 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 15D TO 35D ORIENT 195D TO 215D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: The field for this target contains two sources separated by 6 arcsec. The ACQ should acquire or centroid on the brighter of the two which is NOT the science target. An ORIENT requirement is added to then place both the science target and the nearby object on the slit. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CT151 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P Comments: This should acquire the nearby bright target even though the pointing coordinates are those of the science target (Target 8). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 CT151 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 CT151 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 CT151 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 13] Visit: 09 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0049-3024 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0049-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0049-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0049-3024 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 14] Visit: 10 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CT188 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 CT188 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 CT188 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 CT188 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 CT188 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 15] Visit: 11 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0052-289 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0052-289 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0052-289 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0052-289 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 Q0052-289 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 16] Visit: 12 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0056-2843 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0056-2843 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0056-2843 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0056-2843 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 Q0056-2843 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 17] Visit: 13 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0059-3034 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0059-3034 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0059-3034 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0059-3034 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 18] Visit: 14 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CT309 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 CT309 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 CT309 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 CT309 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 CT309 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 19] Visit: 15 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 Q0105-301 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 10 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q0105-301 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2300 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q0105-301 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q0105-301 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 2900 S UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9137( 4) - 10/29/01 14:37 - [ 20] Summary Form for Proposal 9137 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F28X50LP 52X0.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD STIS/FUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACQ ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ACQTYPE=POINT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements ORIENT 15D TO 35D ORIENT 195D TO 215D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR G140L ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names IRAS00275-2859 Q0040-3024 Q0041-2904 Q0043-2923 Q0045-3045 CT120 PHL3029 CT151 Q0049-3024 CT188 Q0052-289 Q0056-2843 Q0059-3034 CT309 Q0105-301 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wavelengths 1425 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------