E-XQR-30: The evolution of Mg II, C II, and O I across 2 < z < 6

Journal
Date Issued
2024
Author(s)
Sebastian, Alma Maria
•
Ryan-Weber, Emma
•
Davies, Rebecca L.
•
Becker, George D.
•
Keating, Laura C.
•
•
Meyer, Romain A.
•
Bosman, Sarah E. I.
•
•
Kulkarni, Girish
•
Haehnelt, Martin G.
•
Lai, Samuel
•
Eilers, Anna-Christina
•
•
Gallerani, Simona
DOI
Abstract
Intervening metal absorbers in quasar spectra at z > 6 can be used as probes to study the chemical enrichment of the Universe during the Epoch of Reionization. This work presents the comoving line densities (dn/dX) of low-ionization absorbers, namely, Mg II (2796 Å), C II (1334 Å), and O I (1302 Å) across 2 < z < 6 using the E-XQR-30 metal absorber catalogue prepared from 42 XSHOOTER quasar spectra at 5.8 < z < 6.6. Here, we analyse 280 Mg II (1.9 < z < 6.4), 22 C II (5.2 < z < 6.4), and 10 O I (5.3 < z < 6.4) intervening absorbers, thereby building up on previous studies with improved sensitivity of 50 per cent completeness at an equivalent width of W > 0.03 Å. For the first time, we present the comoving line densities of 131 weak (W < 0.3 Å) intervening Mg II absorbers at 1.9 < z < 6.4 which exhibit constant evolution with redshift similar to medium (0.3 < W < 1.0 Å) absorbers. However, the cosmic mass density of Mg II - dominated by strong Mg II systems - traces the evolution of global star formation history from redshift 1.9 to 5.5. E-XQR-30 also increases the absorption path-length by a factor of 50 per cent for C II and O I whose line densities show a rising trend towards z > 5, in agreement with previous works. In the context of a decline in the metal enrichment of the Universe at z > 5, the overall evolution in the incidence rates of absorption systems can be explained by a weak - possibly soft fluctuating - ultraviolet background. Our results, thereby, provide evidence for a late reionization continuing to occur in metal-enriched and therefore, biased regions in the Universe.
Volume
530
Issue
2
Start page
1829
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0035-8711
Ads BibCode
2024MNRAS.530.1829S
Rights
open.access
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