Abstract
The results of a search for the Gunn-Peterson effect at z ∼ 4 are presented. A model for the intensity distribution in spectral regions in the Lyman α forest avoiding strong absorption lines is described. This is used to constrain the possible contribution to the observed opacity from both a constant absorption component and a population of weak absorption lines. It is found that if the neutral hydrogen column density distribution derived from the stronger absorption lines is extrapolated to values below N HI = 10 13.75 cm −2 , a significant Gunn-Peterson effect is required to produce an acceptable fit to the data
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