Evolution of Lyman-limit absorption systems over the redshift range 0.40 less than Z less than 4.69

Details Evolution of Lyman-limit absorption systems over the redshift range 0.40 less than Z less than 4.69 Evolution of Lyman-limit absorption systems over the redshift range 0.40 less than Z less than 4.69

May 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994apj...427l..13s&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letter, vol. 427, no. 1, p. L13-L16

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

126

Absorption Spectra, Density Distribution, Electromagnetic Absorption, Galactic Evolution, Galaxies, Lyman Spectra, Quasars, Red Shift, Ultraviolet Astronomy, Astronomical Observatories, Charge Coupled Devices, Hubble Space Telescope, Spectroscopic Telescopes, Ultraviolet Detectors

Scientific paper

We present the results of a study of 15 z greater than 4.2 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) that extend statistical studies of Lyman-limit absorption line systems (N(HI) greater than or equal to 1.6 x 1017 cm-2 to the highest redshifts currently possible. This data set has been combined with homogeneous data sets of low-redshift Hubble Space Telescope observations and intermediate-redshift ground-based observations. Assuming a power law of the form N(z) = Nzero (1 + z) gamma for the number density, we find gamma = 1.55 and Nzero = 0.27, with N = 3.27 per unit redshift at z = 4. The greater than 99.7% confidence limits for gamma are 2.37 and 0.82. For the first time this indicates intrinsic evolution of these absorbers for an Omega = 1 universe (gamma = 1/2 for no evolution). This results is marginally consistent with no evolution for Omega = 0 (gamma = 1 for no evolution). These results differ significantly from those of Sargent, Steidel, & Boksenberg (1989) who found no intrinsic evolution in Lyman-limit systems up to z = 3.5, and Lanzetta (1991) who found much stronger evolution for z greater than 2.5. stronger evolution for z greater than 2.5. For z approximately less than 2 the space density of Lyman limit systems (N(1.5) approximately equals 1.1) and Mg II absorbers with rest equivalent width Wzero greater than 0.3 A (N(1.5) approximately equals 1.0) is almost identical. This supports the picture that Lyman-limit and Mg II absorbers are drawn from the same population.

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