Observational Tests of Intergalactic Enrichment Models
Abstract
We summarize recent results assessing the carbon and silicon abundances of the intergalactic medium (IGM) using the `pixel optical depth' technique. We briefly discuss the implications of these results for models of intergalactic enrichment, focusing on distinguishing `early' z >> 4 enrichment by the first generations of stars and objects from `late' enrichment by 2 < z < 5 Ly-break galaxies. We then discuss the comparison of observed QSO spectra to simulated spectra generated from cosmological simulations that self-consistently include enrichment, and draw qualitative implications for the general picture of intergalactic enrichment at z > 2.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0504427,
title = {Observational Tests of Intergalactic Enrichment Models},
author = {Anthony Aguirre and Joop Schaye},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0504427},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
6 pages, to appear in proceedings of IAU 199 conference, "Probing Galaxies through Quasar Absorption Lines," eds. Williams, Shu, Menard