Probing galaxy formation at high redshift with damped Lyman alpha systems

直接研究早期宇宙中星系形成和演化的少数可能性之一是详细研究高红移阻尼莱曼α吸收体（DLAs）的性质。DLAs在类星体光谱中产生非常强的HI莱曼α吸收，被认为代表了原星系结构。然而，DLA宿主系统在红移z bbbb2时的形态尚不清楚，DLA在分层星系形成场景中的确切作用尚需要探索。在本项目中，我们希望利用类星体吸收光谱和积分场光谱来研究高红移DLAs。我们希望详细分析所选DLA系统中的金属丰度，以寻找宇宙中第一代恒星（Pop III）富集的特征丰度模式和特征。此外，我们希望通过测量DLA和子DLA宿主物体中Ly α和H α发射的强度和分布来研究合并DLA中的恒星形成速率。该项目的目标是更好地了解早期宇宙中DLA系统的形态和化学演化，并表征DLA作为当今星系构建块的作用。

One of the few possibilities to study the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early Universe directly is to investigate in detail the properties of damped Lyman α absorbers (DLAs) at high redshift. DLAs produce very strong HI Lyman α absorption in the spectra of quasars and are believed to represent protogalactic structures. However, the morphology of DLA host systems at redshifts z>2 it is not well known, and the exact role of DLAs in the hierarchical galaxy formation scenario yet needs to be explored. In this project we want to study high-redshift DLAs using quasar absorption spectroscopy and integral field spectroscopy. We want to analyze in detail the metal abundances in selected DLA systems to search for characteristic abundance patterns and signatures of an enrichment by the first generation of stars (Pop III) in the Universe. In addition, we want to study the star-formation rate in merger-DLAs by measuring the intensity and distribution of Ly α and H α emission in the DLA and sub-DLA host objects. The goal of this project is to better understand the morphology and chemical evolution of DLA systems in the early Universe and to characterize the role of DLAs as building blocks for present-day galaxies.