Detection of a primitive hydrogen cloud

Our identification of absorption systems in the quasars OQ 172, 4,6], has reliably determined one such at z = 3.3528 supported by the hydrogen lines L-L. Analysis shows it to be a primitive hydrogen cloud formed after the big bang. Assuming no broadening due to damping, we found a Doppler width b = 55 km/s and a column density 1g N_H = 14.66 from the curve of growth.