Damped Lyman Alpha systems equivalent width

The low-redshift column density distribution function is well fitted by a power law of the form f(N)~N^{beta}^ with {beta}=-1.46+/-0.20. It is consistent with the high redshift as well as z=0 estimates at the high-column density end but lies between them at the low-column density end. We discuss possible N_HI_ and metallicity bias in Mg II-selected DLA samples and show that such biases do not exist in the current data at z<1.65.

Thus, at least at z<1.65, DLAs found through MgII selection statistically represent the true population of DLAs. However, we caution that studies of DLA metallicities should take into account the relative incidence of DLAs with respect to W_0_{lambda}2796^ (or gas velocity spread) in order to