The filling factor of intergalactic metals at redshift z= 3
Observations of quasar absorption-line systems reveal that the z= 3 intergalactic medium (IGM) is polluted by heavy elements down to H I optical depths τH I≪ 10. What is not yet clear, however, is what fraction of the volume needs to be enriched by metals and whether it suffices to enrich only regions close to galaxies in order to reproduce the
Booth, C. M. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
2
2012