Intervening and intrinsic absorbers leave characteristic signatures on a quasar spectrum because each system removes light at wavelengths set by its own redshift and internal physical conditions. These differences reflect variations in cosmological distance, peculiar velocity, temperature and ionisation state of the absorbing gas. In this study, the spectrum of the high-redshift quasar Q1422+23 (RA 14:24:38.1, DEC +22:56:01), situated close to the bright star Arcturus, is examined with the goal of identifying and analysing triply ionised carbon (C IV) absorption systems along the line of sight. The emission redshift of the quasar is estimated to be about 3.62, placing it at a distance where metal-enriched gas associated with early galaxy formation can be probed in detail. The focus is on the C IV doublet at rest wavelengths 1548.204 Å and 1550.774 Å, a widely used tracer of highly ionised gas in both the intergalactic medium and the circumgalactic regions of galaxies. These lines provide a reliable measure of the ionisation structure and chemical content of the intervening systems. To extract accurate physical parameters, each detected feature is modelled with a Voigt profile that combines Gaussian broadening, caused by thermal motions and small-scale turbulence, with Lorentzian wings arising from natural line broadening. This approach allows a consistent determination of absorber redshift, line-of-sight velocity, cosmological distance, Doppler parameter and the relative contributions of thermal and non-thermal motions. Column densities are also derived to quantify the amount of ionised carbon in each component. The analysis reveals clear variations in redshift, velocity, width and column density among the identified absorption systems. These differences point to a diverse population of ionised structures enriched by earlier episodes of star formation and feedback. The results contribute to a better understanding of how metals are distributed and transported through the high-redshift universe and how the ionised gas evolves over cosmic time.
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An Analysis of Triply Ionised Carbon Absorption in the Spectrum of Q1422+23
Published:
27 February 2026
by MDPI
in The 3rd International Online Conference on Universe
session Gravitation and Cosmology
Abstract:
Keywords: Quasar Absorption Lines; C IV doublet; Voigt profile fitting; Absorber Redshift; Doppler Parameter; Column Density; Intergalactic Medium