The Metallicity of the Redshift 4.16 Quasar BR 2248−1242

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Abstract
We estimate the metallicity in the broad emission line region of the redshift z = 4.16 quasar BR 2248-1242 by comparing line ratios involving nitrogen to theoretical predictions. BR 2248-1242 has unusually narrow emission lines with large equivalent widths, thus providing a rare opportunity to measure several line-ratio abundance diagnostics. The combined diagnostics indicate a metallicity of ~2 times solar. This result suggests that an episode of vigorous star formation occurred near BR 2248-1242 prior to the observed z = 4.16 epoch. The time available for this enrichment episode is only ~1.5 Gyr at z = 4.16 (for H0= 65 km s-1 Mpc-1, Ωm = 0.3, and ΩΛ 1). This evidence for high metallicities and rapid star formation is consistent with the expected early-epoch evolution of dense galactic nuclei.

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