The filling factor of intergalactic metals at redshift z= 3

摘要: Observations of quasar absorption-line systems reveal that the z= 3 intergalactic medium (IGM) is polluted by heavy elements down to H i optical depths τH I≪ 10. What not yet clear, however, what fraction volume needs be enriched metals and whether it suffices enrich only regions close galaxies in order reproduce observations. We use gas density fields derived from large cosmological simulations, together with synthetic spectra imposed model metal distributions, investigate enrichment patterns can observed median depth C iv as a function τH I. Our models satisfy observational constraints if IGM was primarily reside low-mass (mtot rsim 102 kpc. Galaxies more massive haloes cannot possibly account for observations they are too rare their outflows cover sufficiently volume. need out distances much greater than virial radii host haloes. Assuming well mixed on small scales, our modelling requires fractions simulated baryonic mass are, respectively, >10 per cent >50 match