Hierarchical Structure Formation Using Quasars and Lyman Alpha Forests

In this study, we seek to understand the evolution of Large Scale Structures as a function of redshift using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Lyman-alpha Forest data. While the SDSS has supplied a rich set of cosmic data, we focus on quasars. The quasars we observed are billions of light years away. As light traverses these large distances, it interacts with Large Scale Structures (i.e. clustering of matter in the universe at scales larger than galaxies). The specific Large Scale Structures we examine are hydrogen clouds. Since these clouds are in between us and quasars, the light emitted by quasars must interact with hydrogen clouds before it reaches us. These interactions are detected in spectral analysis as absorption lines called Lyman-alpha lines, with a group of Lyman-alpha lines being a Lyman-alpha Forest. By examining Lyman-alpha Forests, we can trace the evolution of Large Scale Structures over time crafting a deeper understanding of the formation of the universe as a whole.