The first comprehensive study of a giant nebula around a radio-quiet quasar in the <i>z</i> < 1 Universe

We present the first comprehensive study of a giant, approximate to 70 kpc-scale nebula around a radio-quiet quasar at z < 1. The analysis is based on deep integral field spectroscopy with Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer of the field of HE 0238-1904, a luminous quasar at z = 0.6282. The nebula emits strongly in [O II], H ss, and [O III], and the quasar resides in an unusually overdense environment for a radio-quiet system. The environment likely consists of two groups which may be merging, and in total have an estimated dynamical mass of M-dyn approximate to 4 x10(13) to 10(14) M-circle dot. The nebula exhibits largely quiescent kinematics and irregular morphology. The nebula may arise primarily through interaction-related stripping of circumgalactic and interstellar medium (CGM/ISM) of group members, with some potential contributions from quasar outflows. The simultaneous presence of the giant nebula and a radio-quiet quasar in a rich environment suggests a correlation between such circum-quasar nebulae and environmental effects. This possibility can be tested with larger samples. The upper limits on the electron number density implied by the [O II] doublet ratio range from log( n e,[O II]/cm(-3)) < 1.2 to 2.8. However, assuming a constant quasar luminosity and negligible projection effects, the densities implied from the measured line ratios between different ions (e.g. [O II], [O III], and [Ne V]) and photoionization simulations are often 10-400 times larger. This large discrepancy can be explained by quasar variability on a time-scale of approximate to 10(4)-10(5) yr.