A metal-poor damped Ly-alpha system at redshift 6.4

Eduardo Banados; Michael Rauch; Roberto Decarli; Emanuele P. Farina,; Chiara Mazzucchelli; Bram P. Venemans; Fabian Walter; Robert A. Simcoe; J.; Xavier Prochaska; Thomas Cooper; Frederick B. Davies; Shi-Fan S. Chen

arXiv:1903.06186·astro-ph.GA·March 20, 2020

A metal-poor damped Ly-alpha system at redshift 6.4

Eduardo Banados, Michael Rauch, Roberto Decarli, Emanuele P. Farina,, Chiara Mazzucchelli, Bram P. Venemans, Fabian Walter, Robert A. Simcoe, J., Xavier Prochaska, Thomas Cooper, Frederick B. Davies, Shi-Fan S. Chen

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TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and analysis of the most distant known damped Ly-alpha system at redshift 6.4, revealing a metal-poor galaxy with low chemical enrichment shortly after the Big Bang.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed characterization of a metal-poor damped Ly-alpha system at such a high redshift, including measurements of HI column density and chemical abundances.

Findings

01

Most distant damped Ly-alpha system known

02

Low metallicity ([O/H] = -2.92) indicating minimal chemical enrichment

03

Consistent with a low-mass galaxy in the early universe

Abstract

We identify a strong Ly-alpha damping wing profile in the spectrum of the quasar P183+05 at z=6.4386. Given the detection of several narrow metal absorption lines at z=6.40392, the most likely explanation for the absorption profile is that it is due to a damped Ly-alpha system. However, in order to match the data a contribution of an intergalactic medium 5-38% neutral or additional weaker absorbers near the quasar is also required. The absorption system presented here is the most distant damped Ly-alpha system currently known. We estimate an HI column density ( $1 0^{20.68 \pm 0.25}$ cm $^{- 2}$ ), metallicity ([O/H] $= - 2.92 \pm 0.32$ ), and relative chemical abundances of a system consistent with a low-mass galaxy during the first Gyr of the universe. This object is among the most metal-poor damped Ly-alpha systems known and, even though it is observed only ~850 Myr after the big bang, its…

Tables17

Table 1. Table 1: Additional AAS T e X symbols

$≲$	`\lesssim`, `\la`	$≳$	`\gtrsim`, `\ga`
µm	`\micron`	−	`\sbond`
=	`\dbond`	≡	`\tbond`
$☉$	`\sun`	$\oplus$	`\earth`
⌀	`\diameter`
°	`\arcdeg`, `\degr`	□	`\sq`
′	`\arcmin`	″	`\arcsec`
$\overset{d}{.}$	`\fd`	$\overset{h}{.}$	`\fh`
$\overset{m}{.}$	`\fm`	$\overset{s}{.}$	`\fs`
$\overset{\circ}{.}$	`\fdg`	$\overset{'}{.}$	`\farcm`
$\overset{''}{.}$	`\farcs`	$\overset{p}{.}$	`\fp`
½	`\onehalf`	UBVR	`\ubvr`
⅓	`\onethird`	U B	`\ub`
⅔	`\twothirds`	B V	`\bv`
¼	`\onequarter`	V R	`\vr`
¾	`\threequarters`	U R	`\ur`

Table 2. Table 2: Text-mode accents

ò	`\‘{o}`	ō	`\={o}`	o͡o	`\t{oo}`
ó	`\’{o}`	ȯ	`\.{o}`	o̧	`\c{o}`
ô	`\^{o}`	ŏ	`\u{o}`	ọ	`\d{o}`
ö	`\"{o}`	ǒ	`\v{o}`	o̱	`\b{o}`
õ	`\~{o}`	ő	`\H{o}`

Table 3. Table 3: National symbols

œ	`\oe`	å	`\aa`	ł	`\l`
Œ	`\OE`	Å	`\AA`	Ł	`\L`
æ	`\ae`	ø	`\o`	ß	`\ss`
Æ	`\AE`	Ø	`\O`

Table 4. Table 4: Math-mode accents

$\hat{a}$	`\hat{a}`	$\dot{a}$	`\dot{a}`
$\overset{ˇ}{a}$	`\check{a}`	$\ddot{a}$	`\ddot{a}`
$\tilde{a}$	`\tilde{a}`	$\overset{˘}{a}$	`\breve{a}`
$\overset{´}{a}$	`\acute{a}`	$\bar{a}$	`\bar{a}`
$\overset{`}{a}$	`\grave{a}`	$\vec{a}$	`\vec{a}`

Table 5. Table 5: Greek and Hebrew letters (math mode)

$α$	`\alpha`	$ν$	`\nu`
$β$	`\beta`	$ξ$	`\xi`
$γ$	`\gamma`	$o$	`o`
$δ$	`\delta`	$π$	`\pi`
$ϵ$	`\epsilon`	$ρ$	`\rho`
$ζ$	`\zeta`	$σ$	`\sigma`
$η$	`\eta`	$τ$	`\tau`
$θ$	`\theta`	$υ$	`\upsilon`
$ι$	`\iota`	$ϕ$	`\phi`
$κ$	`\kappa`	$χ$	`\chi`
$λ$	`\lambda`	$ψ$	`\psi`
$μ$	`\mu`	$ω$	`\omega`
$ϝ$	`\digamma`	$ϰ$	`\varkappa`
$ε$	`\varepsilon`	$ς$	`\varsigma`
$ϑ$	`\vartheta`	$φ$	`\varphi`
$ϱ$	`\varrho`
$Γ$	`\Gamma`	$Σ$	`\Sigma`
$Δ$	`\Delta`	$Υ$	`\Upsilon`
$Θ$	`\Theta`	$Φ$	`\Phi`
$Λ$	`\Lambda`	$Ψ$	`\Psi`
$Ξ$	`\Xi`	$Ω$	`\Omega`
$Π$	`\Pi`
$ℵ$	`\aleph`	$ℶ$	`\beth`
$ℷ$	`\gimel`	$ℸ$	`\daleth`

Table 6. Table 6: Binary operators (math mode)

$\pm$	`\pm`	$\cap$	`\cap`
$\mp$	`\mp`	$\cup$	`\cup`
$∖$	`\setminus`	$⊎$	`\uplus`
$\cdot$	`\cdot`	$⊓$	`\sqcap`
$\times$	`\times`	$⊔$	`\sqcup`
$*$	`\ast`	$◁$	`\triangleleft`
$⋆$	`\star`	$▷$	`\triangleright`
$⋄$	`\diamond`	$≀$	`\wr`
$\circ$	`\circ`	$○$	`\bigcirc`
$∙$	`\bullet`	$△$	`\bigtriangleup`
$\div$	`\div`	$▽$	`\bigtriangledown`
$⊲$	`\lhd`	$⊳$	`\rhd`
$\lor$	`\vee`	$⊙$	`\odot`
$\land$	`\wedge`	$†$	`\dagger`
$\oplus$	`\oplus`	$‡$	`\ddagger`
$⊖$	`\ominus`	$∐$	`\amalg`
$\otimes$	`\otimes`	$⊴$	`\unlhd`
$⊘$	`\oslash`	$⊵$	`\unrhd`

Table 7. Table 7: AMS binary operators (math mode)

$∔$	`\dotplus`	$⋉$	`\ltimes`
$∖$	`\smallsetminus`	$⋊$	`\rtimes`
$⋒$	`\Cap`, `\doublecap`	$⋋$	`\leftthreetimes`
$⋓$	`\Cup`, `\doublecup`	$⋌$	`\rightthreetimes`
$⊼$	`\barwedge`	$⋏$	`\curlywedge`
$⊻$	`\veebar`	$⋎$	`\curlyvee`
$⩞$	`\doublebarwedge`
$⊟$	`\boxminus`	$⊝$	`\circleddash`
$⊠$	`\boxtimes`	$⊛$	`\circledast`
$⊡$	`\boxdot`	$⊚$	`\circledcirc`
$⊞$	`\boxplus`	$∙$	`\centerdot`
$⋇$	`\divideontimes`	$⊺$	`\intercal`

Table 8. Table 8: Miscellaneous symbols

†	`\dag`	§	`\S`
©	`\copyright`	‡	`\ddag`
¶	`\P`	£	`\pounds`
#	`\#`	$	`\$`
%	`\%`	&	`\&`
_	`\_`	{	`\{`
}	`\}`

Table 9. Table 9: Miscellaneous symbols (math mode)

$ℵ$	`\aleph`	$'$	`\prime`
$ℏ$	`\hbar`	$\emptyset$	`\emptyset`
$ı$	`\imath`	$\nabla$	`\nabla`
$ȷ$	`\jmath`	$\sqrt$	`\surd`
$ℓ$	`\ell`	$⊤$	`\top`
$℘$	`\wp`	$⊥$	`\bot`
$ℜ$	`\Re`	$∥$	`\\|`
$ℑ$	`\Im`	$∠$	`\angle`
$\partial$	`\partial`	$△$	`\triangle`
$\infty$	`\infty`	$\$	`\backslash`
$□$	`\Box`	$◇$	`\Diamond`
$\forall$	`\forall`	$♯$	`\sharp`
$\exists$	`\exists`	$♣$	`\clubsuit`
$\neg$	`\neg`	$♢$	`\diamondsuit`
$♭$	`\flat`	$♡$	`\heartsuit`
$♮$	`\natural`	$♠$	`\spadesuit`
$℧$	`\mho`

Table 10. Table 10: AMS miscellaneous symbols (math mode)

$ℏ$	`\hbar`	$‵$	`\backprime`
$ℏ$	`\hslash`	$\emptyset$	`\varnothing`
$△$	`\vartriangle`	$▲$	`\blacktriangle`
$▽$	`\triangledown`	$▼$	`\blacktriangledown`
$□$	`\square`	$■$	`\blacksquare`
$◆$	`\lozenge`	$◆$	`\blacklozenge`
$Ⓢ$	`\circledS`	$★$	`\bigstar`
$∠$	`\angle`	$∢$	`\sphericalangle`
$∡$	`\measuredangle`
$∄$	`\nexists`	$∁$	`\complement`
$℧$	`\mho`	$ð$	`\eth`
$Ⅎ$	`\Finv`	$╱$	`\diagup`
$⅁$	`\Game`	$╲$	`\diagdown`
$𝕜$	`\Bbbk`	$↾$	`\restriction`

Table 11. Table 11: Arrows (math mode)

$\leftarrow$	`\leftarrow`	$⟵$	`\longleftarrow`
$\Leftarrow$	`\Leftarrow`	$⟸$	`\Longleftarrow`
$\to$	`\rightarrow`	$⟶$	`\longrightarrow`
$\Rightarrow$	`\Rightarrow`	$⟹$	`\Longrightarrow`
$\leftrightarrow$	`\leftrightarrow`	$⟷$	`\longleftrightarrow`
$\Leftrightarrow$	`\Leftrightarrow`	$⟺$	`\Longleftrightarrow`
$\mapsto$	`\mapsto`	$⟼$	`\longmapsto`
$↩$	`\hookleftarrow`	$↪$	`\hookrightarrow`
$↼$	`\leftharpoonup`	$⇀$	`\rightharpoonup`
$↽$	`\leftharpoondown`	$⇁$	`\rightharpoondown`
$⇌$	`\rightleftharpoons`	$↝$	`\leadsto`
$↑$	`\uparrow`	$⇕$	`\Updownarrow`
$⇑$	`\Uparrow`	$↗$	`\nearrow`
$↓$	`\downarrow`	$↘$	`\searrow`
$⇓$	`\Downarrow`	$↙$	`\swarrow`
$↕$	`\updownarrow`	$↖$	`\nwarrow`

Table 12. Table 12: AMS arrows (math mode)

$⇠$	`\dashleftarrow`	$⇢$	`\dashrightarrow`
$⇇$	`\leftleftarrows`	$⇉$	`\rightrightarrows`
$⇆$	`\leftrightarrows`	$⇄$	`\rightleftarrows`
$⇚$	`\Lleftarrow`	$⇛$	`\Rrightarrow`
$↞$	`\twoheadleftarrow`	$↠$	`\twoheadrightarrow`
$↢$	`\leftarrowtail`	$↣$	`\rightarrowtail`
$↫$	`\looparrowleft`	$↬$	`\looparrowright`
$⇋$	`\leftrightharpoons`	$⇌$	`\rightleftharpoons`
$↶$	`\curvearrowleft`	$↷$	`\curvearrowright`
$↺$	`\circlearrowleft`	$↻$	`\circlearrowright`
$↰$	`\Lsh`	$↱$	`\Rsh`
$⇈$	`\upuparrows`	$⇊$	`\downdownarrows`
$↿$	`\upharpoonleft`	$↾$	`\upharpoonright`
$⇃$	`\downharpoonleft`	$⇂$	`\downharpoonright`
$⊸$	`\multimap`	$↝$	`\rightsquigarrow`
$↭$	`\leftrightsquigarrow`
$↚$	`\nleftarrow`	$↛$	`\nrightarrow`
$⇍$	`\nLeftarrow`	$⇏$	`\nRightarrow`
$↮$	`\nleftrightarrow`	$⇎$	`\nLeftrightarrow`

Table 13. Table 13: Relations (math mode)

$\leq$	`\leq`	$\geq$	`\geq`
$≺$	`\prec`	$≻$	`\succ`
$⪯$	`\preceq`	$⪰$	`\succeq`
$≪$	`\ll`	$≫$	`\gg`
$\subset$	`\subset`	$\supset$	`\supset`
$\subseteq$	`\subseteq`	$\supseteq$	`\supseteq`
$⊏$	`\sqsubset`	$⊐$	`\sqsupset`
$⊑$	`\sqsubseteq`	$⊒$	`\sqsupseteq`
$\in$	`\in`	$∋$	`\ni`
$⊢$	`\vdash`	$⊣$	`\dashv`
$⌣$	`\smile`	$∣$	`\mid`
$⌢$	`\frown`	$∥$	`\parallel`
$\neq$	`\neq`	$⟂$	`\perp`
$\equiv$	`\equiv`	$≅$	`\cong`
$\sim$	`\sim`	$⋈$	`\bowtie`
$≃$	`\simeq`	$\propto$	`\propto`
$≍$	`\asymp`	$⊧$	`\models`
$\approx$	`\approx`	$≐$	`\doteq`
		$⨝$	`\Join`

Table 14. Table 14: AMS binary relations (math mode)

$≦$	`\leqq`	$≧$	`\geqq`
$⩽$	`\leqslant`	$⩾$	`\geqslant`
$⪕$	`\eqslantless`	$⪖$	`\eqslantgtr`
$≲$	`\lesssim`	$≳$	`\gtrsim`
$⪅$	`\lessapprox`	$⪆$	`\gtrapprox`
$≊$	`\approxeq`	$≂$	`\eqsim`
$⋖$	`\lessdot`	$⋗$	`\gtrdot`
$⋘$	`\lll`, `\llless`	$⋙$	`\ggg`, `\gggtr`
$≶$	`\lessgtr`	$≷$	`\gtrless`
$⋚$	`\lesseqgtr`	$⋛$	`\gtreqless`
$⪋$	`\lesseqqgtr`	$⪌$	`\gtreqqless`
$≑$	`\doteqdot`, `\Doteq`	$≖$	`\eqcirc`
$≓$	`\risingdotseq`	$≗$	`\circeq`
$≒$	`\fallingdotseq`	$≜$	`\triangleq`
$∽$	`\backsim`	$\sim$	`\thicksim`
$≌$	`\backsimeq`	$\approx$	`\thickapprox`
$⫅$	`\subseteqq`	$⫆$	`\supseteqq`
$⋐$	`\Subset`	$⋑$	`\Supset`
$⊏$	`\sqsubset`	$⊐$	`\sqsupset`
$≼$	`\preccurlyeq`	$≽$	`\succcurlyeq`
$⋞$	`\curlyeqprec`	$⋟$	`\curlyeqsucc`
$≾$	`\precsim`	$≿$	`\succsim`
$⪷$	`\precapprox`	$⪸$	`\succapprox`
$⊲$	`\vartriangleleft`	$⊳$	`\vartriangleright`
$⊴$	`\trianglelefteq`	$⊵$	`\trianglerighteq`
$⊨$	`\vDash`	$⊩$	`\Vdash`
$⊪$	`\Vvdash`
$⌣$	`\smallsmile`	$∣$	`\shortmid`
$⌢$	`\smallfrown`	$∥$	`\shortparallel`
$≏$	`\bumpeq`	$≬$	`\between`
$≎$	`\Bumpeq`	$⋔$	`\pitchfork`
$\propto$	`\varpropto`	$϶$	`\backepsilon`
$◀$	`\blacktriangleleft`	$▶$	`\blacktriangleright`
$∴$	`\therefore`	$∵$	`\because`

Table 15. Table 15: AMS negated relations (math mode)

$≮$	`\nless`	$≯$	`\ngtr`
$≰$	`\nleq`	$≱$	`\ngeq`
$⩽̸$	`\nleqslant`	$⩾̸$	`\ngeqslant`
$≦̸$	`\nleqq`	$≧̸$	`\ngeqq`
$⪇$	`\lneq`	$⪈$	`\gneq`
$≨$	`\lneqq`	$≩$	`\gneqq`
$≨$	`\lvertneqq`	$≩$	`\gvertneqq`
$⋦$	`\lnsim`	$⋧$	`\gnsim`
$⪉$	`\lnapprox`	$⪊$	`\gnapprox`
$⊀$	`\nprec`	$⊁$	`\nsucc`
$⋠$	`\npreceq`	$⋡$	`\nsucceq`
$⪵$	`\precneqq`	$⪶$	`\succneqq`
$⋨$	`\precnsim`	$⋩$	`\succnsim`
$⪹$	`\precnapprox`	$⪺$	`\succnapprox`
$≁$	`\nsim`	$≇$	`\ncong`
$∤$	`\nshortmid`	$∦$	`\nshortparallel`
$∤$	`\nmid`	$∦$	`\nparallel`
$⊬$	`\nvdash`	$⊭$	`\nvDash`
$⊮$	`\nVdash`	$⊯$	`\nVDash`
$⋪$	`\ntriangleleft`	$⋫$	`\ntriangleright`
$⋬$	`\ntrianglelefteq`	$⋭$	`\ntrianglerighteq`
$⊈$	`\nsubseteq`	$⊉$	`\nsupseteq`
$⫅̸$	`\nsubseteqq`	$⫆̸$	`\nsupseteqq`
$⊊$	`\subsetneq`	$⊋$	`\supsetneq`
$⊊$	`\varsubsetneq`	$⊋$	`\varsupsetneq`
$⫋$	`\subsetneqq`	$⫌$	`\supsetneqq`
$⫋$	`\varsubsetneqq`	$⫌$	`\varsupsetneqq`

Table 16. Table 16: Variable-sized symbols (math mode)

$\begin{matrix} \sum & \sum & \sum & ⋂ & ⋂ & \bigcap \\ \prod & \prod & \prod & ⋃ & ⋃ & \bigcup \\ ∐ & ∐ & \coprod & ⨆ & ⨆ & \bigsqcup \\ \int & \int & \int & ⋁ & ⋁ & \bigvee \\ \oint & \oint & \oint & ⋀ & ⋀ & \bigwedge \\ ⨀ & ⨀ & \bigodot & ⨂ & ⨂ & \bigotimes \\ ⨁ & ⨁ & \bigoplus & ⨄ & ⨄ & \biguplus \end{matrix}$

Table 17. Table 17: Delimiters (math mode)

$($	`(`	$)$	`)`
$[$	`[`	$]$	`]`
${$	`\{`	$}$	`\}`
$⌊$	`\lfloor`	$⌋$	`\rfloor`
$⌈$	`\lceil`	$⌉$	`\rceil`
$⟨$	`\langle`	$⟩$	`\rangle`
$/$	`/`	$\$	`\backslash`
$\|$	`\vert`	$∥$	`\Vert`
$↑$	`\uparrow`	$⇑$	`\Uparrow`
$↓$	`\downarrow`	$⇓$	`\Downarrow`
$↕$	`\updownarrow`	$⇕$	`\Updownarrow`
$⌜$	`\ulcorner`	$⌝$	`\urcorner`
$⌞$	`\llcorner`	$⌟$	`\lrcorner`

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