The Two-Point Correlation Function of Randomly Distributed Lyman-Alpha Clouds

Details The Two-Point Correlation Function of Randomly Distributed Lyman-Alpha Clouds The Two-Point Correlation Function of Randomly Distributed Lyman-Alpha Clouds

Oct 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...415..524f&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.415, p.524

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

36

Galaxies: Intergalactic Medium, Galaxies: Quasars: Absorption Lines

Scientific paper

It is often assumed that Lyα forest clouds are randomly distributed, intergalactic objects that are highly ionized by the EUV background produced by quasars. If these assumptions are true, fluctuations in the ionizing background should produce a nonzero two-point correlation function in the Lyα forest. This effect, which is really just a generalization of the proximity effect, is more significant at high redshift (z ≍ 3-4) because the attenuation length for EUV photons is smaller there and the fluctuations are correspondingly larger. We have studied this effect using both the semianalytic techniques of Zuo's recent papers and Monte Carlo simulations. The correlation function is expected to have a small yet potentially measurable amplitude that is consistent with current limits. Furthermore, the signature of this effect is distinctive because the nonzero correlation function extends over the photon attenuation length, which is larger than the expected scale of large-scale structure. Observations or upper limits on this effect could provide information about the source of the ionizing background at high redshifts and the nature of the Lyα forest clouds.

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