# Surveys for z > 3 Damped Lyα Absorption Systems: The Evolution of Neutral Gas

@article{StorrieLombardi2000SurveysFZ,
title={Surveys for z > 3 Damped Ly$\alpha$ Absorption Systems: The Evolution of Neutral Gas},
author={L. J. Storrie-Lombardi and Arthur M. Wolfe},
journal={The Astrophysical Journal},
year={2000},
volume={543},
pages={552 - 576}
}
• Published 10 November 2000
• Physics
• The Astrophysical Journal
We have completed spectroscopic observations using LRIS on the Keck 1 telescope of 30 very high redshift quasars, 11 selected for the presence of damped Lyα absorption systems and 19 with redshifts z > 3.5 not previously surveyed for absorption systems. We have surveyed an additional 10 QSOs with the Lick 120'' and the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We have combined these with previous data, resulting in a statistical sample of 646 QSOs and 85 damped Lyα absorbers with column densities N ≥ 2…
217 Citations
• Physics
• 2006
We present results of our Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 11 survey for low-redshift (z < 1.65) damped Lyα (DLA) systems in the UV spectra of quasars selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
• Physics
• 2009
We present the results of a survey of damped (DLA, log N(H I) > 20.3) and sub-damped Lyman-α systems (19.5 2.55 along the lines-of-sight to 77 quasars with emission redshifts in the range 4 19.5 were
• Physics
• 2016
Using galaxies as background light sources to map the Lyα absorption lines is a novel approach to study Damped Lyα Absorbers (DLAs). We report the discovery of an intervening z = 3.335 ± 0.007 DLA
• Physics
• 2003
Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey early data release spectra, we have identified 370 Mg II absorption systems with Mg II λ2796 rest equivalent widths ≥1 Å and redshifts z = 0.9-2.2. From our previous
• Physics
• 2010
We have measured the redshift evolution of the density of Lyman limit systems (LLSs) in the intergalactic medium over the redshift range 0 < z < 6. We have used two new quasar samples to (1) improve
• Physics
• 2002
This paper describes the acquisition and analysis of imaging data for the identification of galaxies associated with z ∼ 4 damped Lyα systems. We present deep BRI images of three fields known to
• Physics
• 2004
The Damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs), seen in absorption in the spectrum of quasars, are believed to contain a large fraction of the neutral gas in the Universe. Paradoxically, these systems are
• Physics
• 2001
We present high signal-to-noise, ∼5 Å resolution (FWHM) spectra of 66 z ≳ 4 bright quasars obtained with the 4 m Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and 4.2 m William Hershel telescopes. The
• Physics
• 2001
We report the first observations of the clustering environment of damped Lyman α absorption systems at z ≃ 4. Color selection and photometric redshifts were used to select 44 candidate Lyman-break
Studies of damped Lyα systems provide us with a good measure of the evolution of the HI column density distribution function and the contribution to the comoving mass density in neutral gas out to

## References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 54 REFERENCES

• Physics
• 1996
Eleven candidate damped Lyα absorption systems were identified in 27 spectra of the quasars from the APM z ≳ 4 survey covering the redshift range 2.8 ≤ z_(absorption) ≤ 4.4 (eight with z_(absorption)
• Physics
• 1996
Although observationally rare, damped Lyα absorption systems dominate the mass density of neutral gas in the Universe. 11 high-redshift damped Lyα systems covering 2.8 ≤z ≤ 4.4 were discovered in 26
• Physics
• 1993
We have discovered two high-redshift (z abs =3.388 and 2.908) damped Lyα absorption systems and a third possible damped system (z abs =3.080) while obtaining spectra of optical counterparts from a
• Physics
• 1994
We present the results of a study of 15 z > 4.2 QSOs that extend statistical studies of Lyman-limit absorption line systems [N(H I) ≥ 1.6 x 10^(17) cm^(- 2)] to the highest redshifts currently
• Physics
• 1996
The APM multicolor survey for bright z > 4 objects, covering 2500 deg^2 of sky to m(R)~19, resulted in the discovery of thirty-one quasars with z > 4. High signal-to-noise optical spectrophotometry
• Physics
• 1991
The results of a new survey for distant galaxies identified on the basis of the damped Lyα absorption lines they produce in the spectra of high-redshift background QSOs are presented. These results
• Physics
• 1998
We explore the redshift evolution of the metal content of damped Lyα systems (DLAs) with new observations of four absorbers at z<1.5; together with other recently published data, there is now a
The redshift distribution of QSO absorption systems which are optically thick in the Lyman continuum matches that of a non-evolving population of absorbers in a standard Friedmann cosmological model
Using a sample of 119 QSOs, containing objects we have selected having previously available high quality ground-based and IUE spectral observations, together with Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
• Physics
• 1989
New intermediate-resolution spectroscopy for six members of a sample of 68 moderate- to high-redshift QSOs is presented. Evidence is reported which indicates that seven strong absorption features in