Astronomers first detected high-speed plasma outflows from quasars in the late 1960s, just a few years after the quasars themselves were recognized as extremely distant and luminous objects. Since then we have grappled with basic questions about thesewinds. What drives them? What is their geometry? What is the source of outflowing gas? How much gas is involved and what is its ionization state and chemical composition? Newprogr ess on these questions, stimulated by observations using satellites and large ground-based telescopes, was discussed at a meeting rn Pasadena rn February.
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