The Metal Absorption Systems of the FDF QSO 0103-260

Abstract

Using the UVES echelle spectrograph at the ESO VLT we obtained high-resolution (R=40 000) spectra of the QSO 0103-260 in the FORS Deep Field (FDF). In addition to numerous Ly forest lines we identified 16 metal absorption systems with redshifts between 0.97 < z < 3.36. A comparison of the observed redshift distributions of the metal line systems and of the spectroscopically observed galaxies in the FDF shows that the distribution of metal absorption clouds and of the galaxies along the line of sight to the QSO are well correlated and obviously trace the cosmic structure in the direction of the FDF.