Statistical Moment Analysis of the Strong DLA Profiles

Incorporating the fully quantum mechanical computation of scattering cross-section and statistical moment analysis of absorption profiles, we investigate the Lyman line asymmetry of extremely high column density systems. Recent high redshift observations detected strong damped Lyman alpha systems (DLAs) whose column density is larger than N_HI ~ [10]^21.3 cm^(-2). Absorption profiles of these DLAs are characterized by the broad and asymmetric damping wing. For accurate description of radiation damping, the second-order time-dependent perturbation theory is adopted. To quantitatively address line asymmetry, we define a distribution function for each Lyman line, and compute statistical moments (mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis) regarding column densities N_HI > [10]^18 cm^(-2). In this work, we present statistical properties of the intrinsic line profiles, and compare them with the Lorentzian cases.