Constraints on ultraviolet absorption in the intracluster medium of Abell 1030

We present results from an extensive Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectrosc opic search for UV absorption lines in the spectrum of the quasar B2 1028 /- 313, which is associated with the central dominant galaxy in the cluster Abell 1030 (z = 0.178). This is one of the brightest known UV continuum so urces located in a cluster and therefore provides an ideal opportunity to o btain stringent constraints on the column densities of any cool absorbing g as that may be associated with the intracluster medium (ICM). Our HST spect ra were obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) and GHRS and prov ide continuous coverage at rest frame wavelengths from similar to 975 to 40 60 Angstrom, thereby allowing the investigation of many different elements and ionization levels. We utilize a new technique that involves simultaneou s fitting of large numbers of different transitions for each species, there by yielding more robust constraints on column densities than can be obtaine d from a single transition. This method yields upper limits of less than or similar to 10(11)-10(13) cm(-2) On the column densities of a wide range of molecular, atomic, and ionized species that may be associated with the ICM . We also discuss a possible Ly alpha and C IV absorption system associated with the quasar. We discuss the implications of the upper limits on cool i ntracluster gas in the context of the physical properties of the ICM and it s relationship to the quasar.