On the Nature and Redshift Evolution of DLA Galaxies

We extend our spiral galaxy models, which successfully describe nearby template spectra as well as the redshift evolution of CFRS and HDF spirals, to include – in a chemically consistent way – the redshift evolution of a series of individual elements. Comparison with observed DLA abundances shows that DLAs might well be the progenitors of present-day spiral types Sa through Sd. Our models bridge the gap between high redshift DLA and nearby spiral HII region abundances. The slow redshift evolution of DLA abundances is a natural consequence of the long SF timescales for discs, the scatter at any redshift reflects the range of SF timescales from early to late spiral types. We claim that, while at high redshift all spiral progenitor types seem to give rise to DLA absorption, towards low redshifts, the early-type spirals seem to drop out of DLA samples due to low gas and/or high metal and dust content. Model implications for the spectrophotometric properties of the DLA galaxy population are discussed in the context of campaigns for the optical identifications of DLA galaxies both at low and high redshift. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.