A deep search for metals near redshift 7 : the line of sight towards ULAS J1120+0641

• We present a search for metal absorption line systems at the highest redshifts to date using a deep (30 h) Very Large Telescope/X=Shooter spectrum of the z = 7.084 quasi-stellar object (QSO) ULAS J1120+0641. We detect seven intervening systems at z > 5.5, with the highest redshift system being a C IV absorber at z = 6.51. We find tentative evidence that the mass density of C IV remains flat or declines with redshift at z < 6, while the number density of C II systems remains relatively flat over 5 < z < 7. These trends are broadly consistent with models of chemical enrichment by star formation-driven winds that include a softening of the ultraviolet background towards higher redshifts. We find a larger number of weak (W-rest < 0.3 angstrom) Mg II systems over 5.9 < z < 7.0 than predicted by a power-law fit to the number density of stronger systems. This is consistent with trends in the number density of weak Mg II systems at z less than or similar to 2.5, and suggests that the mechanisms that create these absorbers are already in place at z similar to 7. Finally, we investigate the associated narrow Si IV, C IV and N V absorbers located near the QSO redshift, and find that at least one component shows evidence of partial covering of the continuum source.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

intergalactic medium

quasars: absorption lines

quasars: individual: ULAS J1120+0641

dark ages

reionization

first stars

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