The ESO UVES Advanced Data Products Quasar Sample: Neutral Gas Mass and Metal Abundances in the Universe
Journal
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Zafar, T.
•
Péroux, C.
•
•
Centurión, M.
•
•
•
Abbas, K.
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Popping, A.
•
Milliard, B.
•
Deharveng, J. -M.
•
Frank, S.
Abstract
Damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs), seen in the spectra of background quasars, are unique probes to select HI-rich galaxies. We selected a dataset of 250 quasars observed with the Ultraviolet Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) and available through the ESO UVES Advanced Data Products (EUADP) archive, to study the gas and metal properties of 150 damped absorbers. These high-redshift absorbers contain information on the physical state and chemical composition of the interstellar medium and the neutral gas mass, a possible indicator of gas consumption as star formation proceeds. We find no evolution of the neutral gas mass density, with sub-DLAs contributing 8-20% (increasing with redshift). The EUADP dataset provides insights into the nucleosynthetic origin of nitrogen, confirming the bimodal behaviour of [N/α], and also confirms the deficiency of argon in DLAs.
Volume
160
Start page
23
Issn Identifier
0722-6691
Ads BibCode
2015Msngr.160...23Z
Rights
open.access
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