Clustering of the Lyman Alpha Clouds in the Line of Sight to the Z=3.66 QSO 0055-269

Abstract

The spectrum of the Q0055-269 ($z=3.66$) has been observed at the resolution of 14 km s${}^{-1}$ in the wavelength interval 4750--6300 à . The statistical distribution of the Doppler parameter for the Ly${}_{\hat{I}}\pm$ lines is peaked at $b\simeq 23$ km s${}^{-1}$. The column density distribution is described by a power-law with a break at $\log N_{HI}\simeq 14.5$. Significant clustering, with $\hat{I}¾\simeq 1$ at $\hat{I}”v=100$ km s${}^{-1}$, is detected for lines with $\log N_{HI}\ge 13.8$. Two voids of size $\sim 2000$ km s${}^{-1}$ are found in the spectrum with a probability of $2\times 10^{-4}$.

4 pages uuencoded compressed postscript, to appear in the proceedings of the ESO Workshop on "QSO Absorption Lines", Garching 21-24 November 1994