Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819

Details Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819 Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819

2001-05-30

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0105529v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

32 pages, 16 ps figures, accepted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/324722

We have detected in high resolution spectra of the quasar Q0347--3819 obtained with the UVES spectrograph at the VLT/Kueyen telescope over 80 absorption features in the Lyman and Werner H2 bands at the redshift of a damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025. The z = 3.025 system spans over 80 km/s and exhibits a multicomponent velocity structure in the metal lines. The main component at z = 3.024855 shows a total H2 column density N(H2) = (4.10\pm0.21)*10^{14} cm^{-2} and a fractional molecular abundance f(H2) = (1.94\pm0.10)*10^{-6} derived from the H2 lines arising from J=0 to 5 rotational levels of the ground electronic-vibrational state. For the first time we unambiguously reveal a pronounced [alpha-element/iron-peak] enhancement of [O,Si/Zn] = 0.6\pm0.1 (6 sigma c.l.) at high redshift. The simultaneous analysis of metal and hydrogen lines leads to D/H = (3.75\pm0.25)*10^{-5}. This value is consistent with standard big bang nucleosynthesis if the baryon-to-photon ratio, eta, lies within the range 4.37*10^{-10} <= eta <= 5.32*10^{-10}, implying 0.016 <= Omega_b h^2_100 <= 0.020.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819 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 Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Molecular hydrogen, deuterium and metal abundances in the damped Ly-alpha system at z = 3.025 toward QSO 0347-3819 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-555022