APM Z ≥ 4 QSO Survey: Spectra and Intervening Absorption Systems

Abstract

The APM multicolor survey for bright z > 4 objects, covering 2500 deg^2 of sky to m_r ~ 19, resulted in the discovery of 31 quasars with z ≳ 4. High signal-to-noise optical spectrophotometry at 5 Å resolution has been obtained for the 28 quasars easily accessible from the northern hemisphere. These spectra have been surveyed to create new samples of high-redshift Lyman-limit systems, damped Lyα absorbers, and metal absorption systems (e.g., C IV and Mg II). In this paper we present the spectra, together with line lists of the detected absorption systems. The QSOs display a wide variety of emission- and absorption-line characteristics, with five exhibiting broad absorption lines and one with extremely strong emission lines (BR 2248 - 1242). Eleven candidate damped Lyα absorption systems have been identified covering the redshift range 2.8 ≤ z ≤ 4.4 (eight with z > 3.5). An analysis of the measured redshifts of the high-ionization emission lines with the low-ionization lines shows them to be blueshifted by 430 ± 60 km s^(-1). In a previous paper (by Storrie-Lombardi et al.) we discussed the redshift evolution of the Lyman limit systems cataloged here. In subsequent papers we will discuss the properties of the Lyα forest absorbers and the redshift and column density evolution of the damped Lyα absorbers.

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