Line versus Flux Statistics -- Considerations for the Low Redshift Lyman-alpha Forest

Abstract

The flux/transmission power spectrum has become a popular statistical tool in studies of the high redshift ($z>2$) Lyman-alpha forest. At low redshifts, where the forest has thinned out into a series of well-isolated absorption lines, the motivation for flux statistics is less obvious. Here, we study the relative merits of flux versus line correlations, and derive a simple condition under which one is favored over the other on purely statistical grounds. Systematic errors probably play an important role in this discussion, and they are outlined as well.

6 pages, to appear in "The IGM/Galaxy Connection: The Distribution of Baryons at z=0", eds. J. L. Rosenberg and M. E. Putman

References in corpus (4)

• The Gaseous Extent of Galaxies and the Origin of Lya Absorption Systems. V. Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry of Lya-absorbing Galaxies at z < 1
• The physical properties of the Ly-Alpha forest at z > 1.5
• The Statistical and Physical Properties of the Low Redshift Lyman Alpha Forest Observed with HST/STIS
• A uniform analysis of the Lyman alpha forest at z = 0-5: III. HST FOS Spectral Atlas

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Lyman-Alpha Absorption in the Quasar Triplet Q0107-025A, Q0107-025B, and Q0107-0232: Data Calibration and Line Selection