Search

We present results from a spectroscopically blind search for associated and intervening HI 21-cm and OH 18-cm absorption lines towards 88 AGNs at $2\le z\le5$ using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). The sample of AGNs with 1.4 GHz spectral luminosity in the range, $10^{27 - 29.3}$ W/Hz, is selected using mid-infrared colors and closely resembles the distribution of the underlying quasar population. The search for associated or proximate absorption, defined to be within 3000 km/s of the AGN redshift, led to one HI 21-cm absorption detection (M1540-1453; $z_{abs}$= 2.1139). This is only the fourth known absorption at $z>2$. The detection rate ($1.6^{+3.8}_{-1.4}$%) suggests low covering factor of cold neutral medium (CNM; T$\sim$100 K) associated with these powerful AGNs. The intervening absorption line search, with a sensitivity to detect CNM in damped Ly$\alpha$ systems (DLAs), has comoving absorption path lengths of $\Delta$X = 130.1 and 167.7 for HI and OH, respectively. The corresponding number of absorber per unit comoving path lengths are $\le$0.014 and $\le$0.011, respectively. The former is at least 4.5 times lower than that of DLAs and consistent with the CNM cross-section estimated using H$_2$ and CI absorbers at $z>2$. Our AGN sample is optically fainter compared to the quasars used to search for DLAs in the past. In our optical spectra obtained using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), we detect 5 intervening (redshift path$\sim9.3$) and 2 proximate DLAs. This is slightly excessive compared to the statistics based on optically selected quasars. The non-detection of HI 21-cm absorption from these DLAs suggests small CNM covering fraction around galaxies at $z>2$., Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures and 4 tables; accepted in ApJS

We present new SINFONI near-infrared integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy and SALT optical long-slit spectroscopy characterising the history of a nearby merging luminous infrared galaxy, dubbed the Bird (IRAS19115-2114). The NIR line-ratio maps of the IFU data-cubes and stellar population fitting of the SALT spectra now allow dating of the star formation (SF) over the triple system uncovered from our previous adaptive optics data. The distinct components separate very clearly in a line-ratio diagnostic diagram. An off-nuclear pure starburst dominates the current SF of the Bird with 60-70% of the total, with a 4-7 Myr age, and signs of a fairly constant long-term star formation of the underlying stellar population. The most massive nucleus, in contrast, is quenched with a starburst age of >40 Myr and shows hints of budding AGN activity. The secondary massive nucleus is at an intermediate stage. The two major components have a population of older stars, consistent with a starburst triggered 1 Gyr ago in a first encounter. The simplest explanation of the history is that of a triple merger, where the strongly star forming component has joined later. We detect multiple gas flows in different phases. The Bird offers an opportunity to witness multiple stages of galaxy evolution in the same system; triggering as well as quenching of SF, and the early appearance of AGN activity. It also serves as a cautionary note on interpretations of observations with lower spatial resolution and/or without infrared data. At high-redshift the system would look like a clumpy starburst with crucial pieces of its puzzle hidden, in danger of misinterpretations., Submitted to MNRAS. 17 pages, 7 tables, 15 figures