paper

D/H in a new Lyman limit quasar absorption system at z=3.256 towards PKS1937-1009

arXiv:astro-ph/0403512 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08390.x

Abstract

We have identified a new Lyman limit absorption system towards PKS1937-1009, with log N(HI)=18.25 +/- 0.02 at z=3.256. It is suitable for measuring D/H, and we find a 68.3% confidence range for D/H of 1.6^{+0.25}_{-0.30} \times 10^{-5}, and a 95.4% range of 1.6^{+0.5}_{-0.4} \times 10^{-5}. The metallicity of the cloud where D/H was measured is low, [Si/H] = -2.0 +/- 0.5. At these metallicities we expect that D/H will be close to the primordial value. Our D/H disagrees at a level of 99.4% with the predicted D/H using the baryon density calculated from the cosmic background radiation measured by WMAP, 2.60^{+0.19}_{-0.17} \times 10^{-5}. Our result also exacerbates the scatter in D/H values around the mean primordial D/H.

arXiv comment13 pages, accepted by MNRAS. Version 2: corrected typos. Version 3: Final accepted version. Includes new section comparing this result to other QSO D/H results

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