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We characterize the physical properties of the cool T ~10^4 K circumgalacticmedium surrounding z ~2-3 quasar host galaxies, which are predicted to evolveinto present day massive ellipticals. Using a statistical sample of 14 quasarpairs with projected separation < 300 kpc and high dispersion, high S/Nspectra, we find extreme kinematics with low metal ion lines typically spanning~ 500 km/s, exceeding any previously studied galactic population. The CGM issignificantly enriched, even beyond the virial radius, with a medianmetallicity [M/H] ~ -0.6. The alpha/Fe abundance ratio is enhanced, suggestingthat halo gas is primarily enriched by core-collapse supernovae. The projectedcool gas mass within the virial radius is estimated to be 1.9*10^11 M_sun(R_\perp/160 kpc)^2, accounting for ~ 1/3 of the galaxy halo baryonic budget.The ionization state of CGM gas increases with projected distance from theforeground quasars, contrary to expectation if the quasar dominates theionizing radiation flux. However, we also found peculiarities not exhibited inthe CGM of other galaxy populations. In one absorption system, we may bedetecting unresolved fluorescent Ly-alpha emission, and another system showsstrong NV lines. Taken together these anomalies suggest that transversesightlines are at least in some cases possibly illuminated. We also discovereda peculiar case where detection of the CII* fine structure line implies anelectron density > 100 cm^-3 and subparsec scale gas clumps.

Quasars Probing Quasars VIII. The Physical Properties of the Cool Circumgalactic Medium Surrounding z ~ 2-3 Massive Galaxies Hosting Quasars