Cosmological Adventures in the Lyman Forest

Abstract

The properties of the Lyman-$α$ absorptions observed in the spectra of QSOs are reviewed: the distribution of column densities and Doppler widths, the redshift evolution, the ``inverse effect'', the clustering. By interpreting the statistics of the line parameters insight is gained about the nature of the absorbers, their sizes, temperatures, confining agents. On the basis of the ``inverse effect'' it is possible to estimate the ultraviolet background radiation at high redshift and, linking this information with the limits on the Gunn-Peterson optical depth, the density of the diffuse part of the intergalactic medium is derived. Future prospects are briefly discussed.