C IV absorbers tracing cool gas in dense galaxy group/cluster environments.

We present analysis on three intervening H  i –C  iv absorption systems tracing gas within galaxy group/cluster environments, identified in the HST /COS far-UV spectra of the background quasars PG 1148 + 549 (⁠|$z$| _abs = 0.003 46), SBS 1122 + 594 (⁠|$z$| _abs = 0.004 02), and RXJ 1230.8 + 0115 (⁠|$z$| _abs = 0.005 74). The ionization models are consistent with the origin of metal lines and H  i from a cool and diffuse photoionized gas phase with T ≲ 4 × 10⁴ K and |$n_{{{\rm H}\,}} \lesssim 5 \times 10^{-4}$|  cm⁻³. The three absorbers have 89, 51, and 17 galaxies detected within 1 Mpc and |Δ |$v$| | < 600 km s⁻¹. The RXJ 1230.8 + 0115 sightline traces the outskirt regions of the Virgo cluster where the absorber is found to have supersolar metallicity. The detection of metal lines along with H  i has enabled us to confirm the presence of cool, diffuse gas possibly enriched by outflows, and tidal interactions in environments with significant galaxy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]