9189(  1) - 12/20/00 23:36  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      9189
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 20-Dec-2000
                                                                      23:09:42

1.Proposal Title:
Probing the High Redshift Universe with Quasar Emission Lines
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               10
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Jack Baldwin                      Michigan State University
   CoI: Dr. Gary Ferland                  University of Kentucky                        N

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Abstract

A quasar's emission line spectrum appears to be the result of two, possibly
correlated quantities - the continuum SED at ionizing energies and the gas
metallicity (Korista et al. 1998). Both are important on their own - the continuum
shape for the central object physics and effects on ionization of the IGM, and the
metallicity for telling us about the early evolution of massive galaxies. This
proposal builds on each by extending the observed line and continuum data base to
well below LyAlpha, which will greatly improve our ability to measure the ionizing
continuum shape and metallicity on an object-by-object basis. As an initial step, we
wish to sort through the ~650 QSO spectra in the HST archives that cover the 600--
1000Angstrom\ region, and see how good a sample can be assembled with a minimum of
new HST observations. Direct observation shows that the observed continuum is not
sufficient to power the clouds. We will use these new lines to develop the emission
line indicators that will measure what continuum the clouds do see, and to
critically test the reliabilty of our proposed metallicity indicators. This will
result in major improvements of our understanding of the inner environment of a
quasar by measuring both the continuum shape and metallicity, and is a necessary
step to being able to use quasars as probes of the high redshift universe.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                9189(  1) - 12/20/00 23:36  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  9189

  Item                         Used in this proposal
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Proposal Category            AR
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------