Diffuse interstellar bands in z < 0.6 Ca ii absorbers

Abstract

Abstract The diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) probably arise from complex organic molecules whose strength in local galaxies correlates with neutral hydrogen column density, N(H i), and dust reddening, E(B−V). Because Ca ii absorbers in quasar (QSO) spectra are posited to have high N(H i) and significant E(B−V), they represent promising sites for the detection of DIBs at cosmological distances. Here we present the results from the first search for DIBs in nine Ca ii-selected absorbers at 0.07 > zabs > 0.55. We detect the 5780-Å DIB in one line of sight at zabs= 0.1556; this is only the second QSO absorber in which a DIB has been detected. Unlike the majority of local DIB sight-lines, both QSO absorbers with detected DIBs show weak 6284-Å absorption compared with the 5780-Å band. This may be indicative of different physical conditions in intermediate redshift QSO absorbers compared with local galaxies. Assuming that local relations between the 5780-Å DIB strength and N(H i) and E(B−V) apply in QSO absorbers, DIB detections and limits can be used to derive N(H i) and E(B−V). For the one absorber in this study with a detected DIB, we derive E(B−V) = 0.23 mag and log N(H i) ≥ 20.9, consistent with previous conclusions that Ca ii systems have high H i column densities and significant reddening. For the remaining eight Ca ii-selected absorbers with 5780-Å DIB non-detections, we derive E(B−V) upper limits of 0.1–0.3 mag.