The redshift number density evolution of Mg Ⅱ absorption systems

作     者：Zhi-Fu Chen 

作者机构：Department of Physics and Telecommunication Engineering Baise University Center for Astrophysics Guangzhou University 

出 版 物：《Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics》 (天文和天体物理学研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2013年第13卷第6期

页      面：641-650页

核心收录：

学科分类：0709[理学-地质学] 07[理学] 0708[理学-地球物理学] 070401[理学-天体物理] 0704[理学-天文学] 0825[工学-航空宇航科学与技术] 

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11073007) the Guangzhou technological project (No. 11C62010685) Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (2012jjAA10090) 

主　　题：methods： statistical    galaxies： evolution    quasars： absorption lines 

摘      要：We make use of the recent large sample of 17 042 Mg Ⅱ absorption systems from Quider et al. to analyze the evolution of the redshift number density. Regardless of the strength of the absorption line, we find that the evolution of the redshift number density can be clearly distinguished into three different phases. In the intermediate redshift epoch （0.6 ≤ z ≤ 1.6）, the evolution of the redshift number density is consis- tent with the non-evolution curve, however, the non-evolution curve over-predicts the values of the redshift number density in the early （z ≤ 0.6） and late （z ≥ 1.6） epochs. Based on the invariant cross-section of the absorber, the lack of evolution in the red- shift number density compared to the non-evolution curve implies the galaxy number density does not evolve during the middle epoch. The fiat evolution of the redshift number density tends to correspond to a shallow evolution in the galaxy merger rate during the late epoch, and the steep decrease of the redshift number density might be ascribed to the small mass of halos during the early epoch.