Physics
Scientific paper
May 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995natur.375..124s&link_type=abstract
Nature, Volume 375, Issue 6527, pp. 124-126 (1995).
Physics
53
Scientific paper
KNOWLEDGE of the physical state of the relatively uniform component of the intergalactic medium (the 'substrate') is critical to understanding the propagation of ionizing radiation and dynamical energy through intergalactic space, and for establishing the boundary conditions for the formation of the intergalactic gas clouds and galaxies that are assumed to have condensed from it. Uniformly distributed hydrogen, and, even more so, He+ will produce characteristic smooth absorption in the spectra of high-redshift quasars1-4, but at low spectral resolution it is difficult to distinguish such an absorption trough from the cumulative effect of absorption by the Lyman-α 'forest' of clouds. We report the detection of a population of weak 'forest' clouds with column density down to 2 x 1012 cm-2, and show that absorption in these clouds can account for a recent measurement1 of strong He+ absorption without necessarily having to invoke a diffuse intergalactic medium.
Cowie Lennox L.
Hu Esther M.
Songaila Antoinette
No associations
LandOfFree
A population of very diffuse Lyman-α clouds as the origin of the He+ absorption signal in the intergalactic medium does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A population of very diffuse Lyman-α clouds as the origin of the He+ absorption signal in the intergalactic medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A population of very diffuse Lyman-α clouds as the origin of the He+ absorption signal in the intergalactic medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1061860