Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009hst..prop12308m&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #12308. Cycle 18
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
We have searched nearly 15,000 strong intervening MgII systems in SDSS quasar spectra to measure spectral regions where weak, unsaturated metal lines are predicted to exist, with the aim of finding a representative sample of the strongest metal-line column density systems in the universe. These systems are clearly damped Lyman-alpha {DLA} systems, which track cosmologically intervening neutral gas regions that fall along the sightlines to background quasars. We propose STIS G230L spectroscopy of seven strong-ZnII-selected systems from this sample in order to measure their Lyman-alpha absorption profiles and derive their HI column densities. Since Zn is not depleted onto grains, measurement of N{HI} allows a direct measurement of the metal abundance in such systems. We expect the results to be representative of the upper envelope of the distribution of neutral-gas-phase metallicities near redshift z=1.2. If these systems are high-N{HI} DLAs {e.g., 6E21 atoms/cm^2} they will have metallicities typical of those normally found in DLAs {e.g., one-tenth solar}. However, if they are low-N{HI} DLAs {e.g., 2E20 atoms/cm(2) }, they will have supersolar metallicities. Since these DLAs are selected on the basis of their extreme metal-line properties, analysis of their metallicities and dust-to-gas ratios will lead to strong constraints on the range of properties exhibited by DLA systems.;
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