The HIRES Damped Lya Abundance Database

 
 Brought to you by: 
Jason X. Prochaska (UCSC) 


in conjuction with: 
Arthur M. Wolfe (UCSD)
        David Tytler (UCSD)
        Sara Ellison (ESO)
	and
        Max Pettini (Cambridge)

Last Updated 05/13/03

Keck Twin Domes

Quick Links

Atomic Data (v0.5) and Atomic References


Individual Abundance Tables


Summary Abundance Tables


Papers and References

I. Description of the Abundance Database

This set of web pages will serve as an archive for damped Lya chemical abundances. My motivation for establishing and providing upkeep on this site is twofold: (1) invariably I find errors in my analysis or in the atomic data as published in my papers and I wish to correct them sooner than my next publication; (2) gathering all of the data files into one place will probably be of use to other folks.

At the very least, I intend to present tables and the like for all of the data I have at my disposal. I also wish to encourage people to submit their own results with the aim of establishing one uniform database for the whole community. Wouldn't it be nice if the ISM and stellar abundance communities did the same?

** If you use data from this database be sure to reference the appropriate people. And I don't just mean my papers. Check the info in the Individual Abundance Table list.**

II. Accessing the Abundance Database

For my convenience and hopefully yours, each damped Lya system has 3 unique tables associated with it:
  • A Base file which lists properties like the absorption redshift, HI column density, kinematic characteristics, etc. An example file is here.
  • An ionic column density file which lists the column density and 1 sigma error for each transition measured. It also indicates whether the line was considered a limit, if it was included in determining the elemental abundance, what instrument was used to measure it and who observed it. An example file is here.
  • An elemental abundance file which lists the column density for each element measured. I've chosen not to give [X/H] values in order to avoid confusing with changing HI or meteoritic abundances. An example file is here.
  • NEW: An input file which lists the velocity regions used for the apparent optical depth method. They are all tarred together here clm.tar.gz.
Ok, here are the tables for all of the damped systems. And here are the summary tables.

**It is worth stressing that all of the abundance measurements assume the atomic data given by this file with references given in this file.

III. Adding to the Abundance Database

First off, if you have noticed an error in my measurments or in the atomic data I am using or if you know if new atomic data which is better than what I am using please email me at hiresdla@kingpin.ucsd.edu. I might not respond and I might ignore your suggestion, but I promise to read them all on a semi-regular basis.

Hopefully, those of you in the community who are making similar measurements (preferably on new damped systems) might like to add to this database. Simply send me the 3 tables that I present for each damped Lya system and I'll add them in. To maintain the homogeneity of the database I strongly recommend that you use the AODM and I require that you use the SAME atomic data that I am using. If you think your atomic data is better, let me know why and I'll likely revise mine. Please also send a brief description of your analysis and a reference to your work.
e-mail: hiresdla@kingpin.ucsd.edu
modified 05/13/03