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We present a detailed analysis of the H_2 and HD absorption lines detected in the Damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) system at z_abs=2.3377 towards the quasar Q1232+082. We show that this intervening cloud has a covering factor smaller than unity and covers only part of the QSO broad emission line region. The zero flux level has to be corrected at the position of the saturated H_2 and optically thin HD lines by about 10%. We accurately determine the Doppler parameter for HD and CI lines (b = 1.86+/-0.20 km/s). We find a ratio N(HD)/N(H_2)=(7.1 +3.7 -2.2)x10^-5 that is significantly higher than what is observed in molecular clouds of the Galaxy. Chemical models suggest that in the physical conditions prevailing in the central part of molecular clouds, deuterium and hydrogen are mostly in their molecular forms. Assuming this is true, we derive D/H = (3.6 +1.9 -1.1)x10^-5. This implies that the corresponding baryon density of the Universe is Omega_b h^2 = (0.0182 +0.0047 -0.0042). This value coincides within 1sigma with that derived from observations of the CMBR as well as from observations of the D/H atomic ratio in low-metallicity QSO absorption line systems. The observation of HD at high redshift is therefore a promising independent method to constrain Omega_b. This observation indicates as well a low astration factor of deuterium. This can be interpreted as the consequence of an intense infall of primordial gas onto the associated galaxy.
We have analyzed the spectrum of the quasar PKS 1232+082 obtained by Petitjean et al. (2000). HD molecular lines are identified in an absorption system at the redshift z=2.3377. The column density of HD molecules in the system is estimated, N(HD)=(1-
We present final statistics from a survey for intervening MgII absorption towards 100 quasars with emission redshifts between $z=3.55$ and $z=7.08$. Using infrared spectra from Magellan/FIRE, we detect 279 cosmological MgII absorbers, and confirm tha
We present a systematic study of deuterated molecular hydrogen (HD) at high redshift, detected in absorption in the spectra of quasars. We present four new identifications of HD lines associated with known $rm H_2$-bearing Damped Lyman-$alpha$ system
Molecules dominate the cooling function of neutral metal-poor gas at high density. Observation of molecules at high redshift is thus an important tool toward understanding the physical conditions prevailing in collapsing gas. Up to now, detections ar
Massive galaxies in the distant Universe form stars at much higher rates than today. Although direct resolution of the star forming regions of these galaxies is still a challenge, recent molecular gas observations at the IRAM Plateau de Bure interfer