New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers

Details New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers

Apr 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...407..456w&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 407, no. 2, p. 456-469.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

39

Absorption Spectra, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Red Shift, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Charge Coupled Devices, Galactic Evolution

Scientific paper

We have discovered two high-redshift (z(abs) = 3.388 and 2.908) damped Ly-alpha absorption systems and a third possible damped system (z(abs) = 3.080) while obtaining spectra of optical counterparts from a sample of flat spectrum radio sources. These three systems all have higher redshifts than any previously known damped Ly-alpha absorption systems in the spectra of radio-loud quasars, and they are among the highest redshift damped Ly-alpha systems known. It is unlikely that we would have found as many as two or three damped Ly-alpha absorption systems among our sample unless there is a significant increase in the area-weighted comoving density of damped systems for z greater than 3. Using data from this paper combined with previous surveys for damped Ly-alpha absorbers, we derive the area-weighted comoving density of damped Ly-alpha absorbers and find that it increases sharply at redshifts above z = 3. A constant comoving density can be ruled out at the 95 percent confidence level if q(0) = 0 and the 97 percent confidence level if q(0) = 0.5. This is the first good statistical evidence for evolution in the number (or size) of damped Ly-alpha absorbers at high redshift. We argue that the most likely explanation for the rapid disappearance of damped Ly-alpha absorbers between z = 3.5 and z = 3 is that we are observing the epoch of galaxy formation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers 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 New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and New high-redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems and the redshift evolution of damped absorbers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1369711