Abstract
Damped Lyman-α systems observed in the spectra of high-redshift quasars are considered as the progenitors of present-day galaxies.Indeed, the large neutral hydrogen column densities observed and the presence of metals imply that the gas is somehow closely associated with regions of star formation. The nature of the absorbing object is unclear however.The discussion of whether high-redshift damped Lyman-α systems are produced throughlarge, fast-rotating, thick disks or through building-blocks of galaxies is important since it is related to how present-day galaxies form, either through initial formation of large disks and subsequent accretion of gas or as a result of merging of pregalactic clumps.We argue here that damped Lyman-α systems are progenitors of any kind of galaxy (dwarfs and large spirals); they trace peaks in the spatial density distribution of the gas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boissé, P., Le Brun, V., Bergeron, J. and Deharveng, J.M.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 333, 841.
Fall, S.M. and Pei, Y.C.: 1993, Astrophys. J. 402, 479.
Haehnelt, M.G., Steinmetz, M. and Rauch, M.: 1998, Astrophys. J. 495, 647.
Kauffmann, G.: 1996, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 281, 475.
Kulkarni, V.P., Fall, S.M. and Truran, J.W.: 1997, Astrophys. J. 484, L7.
Lanzetta, K.M., Wolfe, A.M. and Turnshek, D.A.: 1995, Astrophys. J. 440, 435.
Le Brun, V., Bergeron, J., Boissé, P. and Deharveng, J.M.: 1997, Astron. Astrophys. 321, 733.
Ledoux, C., Petitjean, P., Bergeron, J., Wampler, E.J. and Srianand, R.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 337, 51.
Lu, L., Sargent, W.L.W., Barlow, T.A., Churchill, C.W. and Vogt, S.S.: 1996, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 107, 475.
Petitjean, P.: 1998, astro-ph/9810418.
Petitjean, P., Bergeron, J. and Puget, J.L.: 1992, Astron. Astrophys. 265, 375.
Pettini, M., Smith, L.J., Hunstead, R.W. and King, D.L.: 1994, Astrophys. J. 426, 79.
Pettini, M., King, D.L., Smith, L.J. and Hunstead, R.W.: 1997a, Astrophys. J. 478, 536.
Pettini, M., Smith, L.J., King, D.L. and Hunstead, R.W.: 1997b, Astrophys. J. 486, 665.
Prochaska, J.X. and Wolfe, A.M.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 470, 403.
Prochaska, J.X. and Wolfe, A.M.: 1997a, Astrophys. J. 474, 140.
Prochaska, J.X. and Wolfe, A.M.: 1997b, Astrophys. J. 487, 73.
Savage, B.D. and Sembach, K.R.: 1996, Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 34, 279.
Srianand, R. and Petitjean, P.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 335, 33.
Storrie-Lombardi, L.J., McMahon, R.G. and Irwin, M.J.: 1996, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 283, L79.
Turnshek, D.A.: 1998, in: P. Petitjean and S. Charlot (eds.), Evolution and Structure of the IGM, XIII IAP Colloquium, Editions Frontières, p. 263.
Vladilo, G.: 1998, Astrophys. J. 493, 583.
Wolfe, A.M., et al.: 1986, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 61, 249.
Wolfe, A.M.: 1995, in: G. Meylan (ed.), QSO Absorption Lines, Springer, Berlin, p. 13.
Wolfe, A.M. and Prochaska, J.X.: 1998, Astrophys. J. 494, L15.
Wolfe, A.M.: 1998, in: P. Petitjean and S. Charlot (eds.), Evolution and Structure of the IGM, XIII IAP colloquium, Editions Frontières, p. 243.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petitjean, P., Ledoux, C. Damped Lyman-α Systems. Astrophysics and Space Science 265, 483–486 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002183304994
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002183304994