Péridier Library Abstract Archive

Abstract No. UT 348

Title: The Extraordinary Abundances of QSO Broad Absorption Line Regions: A Matter of Novae?
Author(s): Gregory A. Shields
Keywords: accretion, accretion disks --- novae, cataclysmic variables --- galaxies: abundances --- quasars: absorption lines
E-Mail: Gregory A. Shields (to request a full copy of this paper)
Preprint: 9602126 Document source or PostScript
Release date: 02/15/96 15:46:08
Publication status: Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 461, in press (1996 April 10)
Comments: 4 pages, 1 figures

The broad absorption lines (BALs) of QSOs indicate abundances of heavy elements, relative to hydrogen, that are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than the solar values. In at least one QSO, an especially large enhancement of phosphorus is observed. These abundances resemble those in Galactic novae, and this suggests that novae may produce the BAL gas. The needed rate of nova outbursts may come from single white dwarfs that accrete gas as they pass through a supermassive accretion disk around a central black hole.