The high-redshift deuterium abundance: The z = 3.086 absorption complex towards Q 0420 - 388

R. F. Carswell; J. K. Webb; K. M. Lanzetta; J. A. Baldwin; A. J. Cooke; G. M. Williger; M. Rauch; M. J. Irwin; J. G. Robertson; P. A. Shaver

doi:10.1093/mnras/278.2.506

The high-redshift deuterium abundance: The z = 3.086 absorption complex towards Q 0420 - 388

R. F. Carswell
, J. K. Webb
, K. M. Lanzetta
, J. A. Baldwin
, A. J. Cooke
, G. M. Williger
, M. Rauch
, M. J. Irwin
, J. G. Robertson
, P. A. Shaver

Physics and Astronomy

University of Cambridge
University of New South Wales
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Royal Observatory
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
The University of Sydney
European Southern Observatory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

The redshift z_abs = 3.08 absorption complex towards the z_em = 3.12 quasar 0420 - 388 has high H I column density components with heavy element abundances ∼ 1/10 solar. A low-redshift component of the complex has H I column density ∼ 10¹⁸ cm^-2, and some of the higher order Lyman lines are clean enough to permit a measurement of the deuterium column density for this component. However, while the putative deuterium column density is fairly well-determined, the H I column density is very uncertain so, if the deuterium identification is correct, the D/H ratio for this component could have any value > 2 × 10^-5. The D I/O I ratio is much better constrained, and has a value ∼ 2. If the O I/H I ratio is constant throughout the complex, then D/H ∼ 2 × 10^-4.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	506-518
Number of pages	13
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	278
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/278.2.506
State	Published - 1996

Keywords

Galaxies: abundances
Quasars: absorption lines
Quasars: individual: 0420-388

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10.1093/mnras/278.2.506

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@article{6917f2b130d34470a64064abd460a5f4,

title = "The high-redshift deuterium abundance: The z = 3.086 absorption complex towards Q 0420 - 388",

abstract = "The redshift zabs = 3.08 absorption complex towards the zem = 3.12 quasar 0420 - 388 has high H I column density components with heavy element abundances ∼ 1/10 solar. A low-redshift component of the complex has H I column density ∼ 1018 cm-2, and some of the higher order Lyman lines are clean enough to permit a measurement of the deuterium column density for this component. However, while the putative deuterium column density is fairly well-determined, the H I column density is very uncertain so, if the deuterium identification is correct, the D/H ratio for this component could have any value > 2 × 10-5. The D I/O I ratio is much better constrained, and has a value ∼ 2. If the O I/H I ratio is constant throughout the complex, then D/H ∼ 2 × 10-4.",

keywords = "Galaxies: abundances, Quasars: absorption lines, Quasars: individual: 0420-388",

author = "Carswell, \{R. F.\} and Webb, \{J. K.\} and Lanzetta, \{K. M.\} and Baldwin, \{J. A.\} and Cooke, \{A. J.\} and Williger, \{G. M.\} and M. Rauch and Irwin, \{M. J.\} and Robertson, \{J. G.\} and Shaver, \{P. A.\}",

year = "1996",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/278.2.506",

language = "English",

volume = "278",

pages = "506--518",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The high-redshift deuterium abundance

T2 - The z = 3.086 absorption complex towards Q 0420 - 388

AU - Carswell, R. F.

AU - Webb, J. K.

AU - Lanzetta, K. M.

AU - Baldwin, J. A.

AU - Cooke, A. J.

AU - Williger, G. M.

AU - Rauch, M.

AU - Irwin, M. J.

AU - Robertson, J. G.

AU - Shaver, P. A.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - The redshift zabs = 3.08 absorption complex towards the zem = 3.12 quasar 0420 - 388 has high H I column density components with heavy element abundances ∼ 1/10 solar. A low-redshift component of the complex has H I column density ∼ 1018 cm-2, and some of the higher order Lyman lines are clean enough to permit a measurement of the deuterium column density for this component. However, while the putative deuterium column density is fairly well-determined, the H I column density is very uncertain so, if the deuterium identification is correct, the D/H ratio for this component could have any value > 2 × 10-5. The D I/O I ratio is much better constrained, and has a value ∼ 2. If the O I/H I ratio is constant throughout the complex, then D/H ∼ 2 × 10-4.

AB - The redshift zabs = 3.08 absorption complex towards the zem = 3.12 quasar 0420 - 388 has high H I column density components with heavy element abundances ∼ 1/10 solar. A low-redshift component of the complex has H I column density ∼ 1018 cm-2, and some of the higher order Lyman lines are clean enough to permit a measurement of the deuterium column density for this component. However, while the putative deuterium column density is fairly well-determined, the H I column density is very uncertain so, if the deuterium identification is correct, the D/H ratio for this component could have any value > 2 × 10-5. The D I/O I ratio is much better constrained, and has a value ∼ 2. If the O I/H I ratio is constant throughout the complex, then D/H ∼ 2 × 10-4.

KW - Galaxies: abundances

KW - Quasars: absorption lines

KW - Quasars: individual: 0420-388

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0001395911

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/278.2.506

DO - 10.1093/mnras/278.2.506

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0001395911

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 278

SP - 506

EP - 518

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 2

ER -

The high-redshift deuterium abundance: The z = 3.086 absorption complex towards Q 0420 - 388

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Keywords

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