DISCOVERY OF WATER VAPOR IN THE HIGH-REDSHIFT QUASAR APM 08279+5255 AT z = 3.91

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/738/1/L6· OSTI ID:21562450

Lis, D C; Phillips, T G ^[1]; Neufeld, D A ^[2]; Gerin, M ^[3]; Neri, R ^[4]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics 301-17, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
3. LERMA, UMR 8112 du CNRS, Observatoire de Paris and Ecole Normale Superieure, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris cedex 05 (France)
4. IRAM-Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique, 300 rue de la Piscine, 38406 Saint-Martin d'Heres (France)

We report a detection of the excited 2{sub 20}-2{sub 11} rotational transition of para-H{sub 2}O in APM 08279+5255 using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. At z = 3.91, this is the highest-redshift detection of interstellar water to date. From large velocity gradient modeling, we conclude that this transition is predominantly radiatively pumped and on its own does not provide a good estimate of the water abundance. However, additional water transitions are predicted to be detectable in this source, which would lead to an improved excitation model. We also present a sensitive upper limit for the hydrogen fluoride (HF) J = 1-0 absorption toward APM 08279+5255. While the face-on geometry of this source is not favorable for absorption studies, the lack of HF absorption is still puzzling and may be indicative of a lower fluorine abundance at z = 3.91 compared with the Galactic interstellar medium.

• OSTI ID: 21562450
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 738; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ABUNDANCE
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DETECTION
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUASARS
RED SHIFT
SIMULATION
SORPTION
VAPORS
VELOCITY
WATER
WATER VAPOR