An imaging and spectroscopic study of the zabs=3.38639 damped Lyα system in Q0201+1120:: Clues to star formation at high redshift

We present the results of a series of imaging and spectroscopic observations aimed at identifying and studying the galaxy responsible for the z(abs) = 3.38639 damped Ly alpha system in the quasar z(em) = 3.61 quasar Q0201 + 1120. We find that the damped Ly alpha systems (DLA) is part of a concentration of matter that includes at least four galaxies (probably many more) over linear comoving dimensions greater than 5 h(-1) Mpc. The absorber may be a 0.7L* galaxy at an impact parameter of 15 h(-1) kpc, but follow-up spectroscopy is still required for positive identification. The gas is turbulent, with many absorption components distributed over similar to 270 km s(-1) and a large spin temperature, T-s greater than or similar to 4000 K. The metallicity is relatively high for this redshift, Z(DLA) similar or equal to 1/20 Z.. From consideration of the relative ratios of elements that have different nucleosynthetic timescales, it would appear that the last major episode of star formation in this DLA occurred at z greater than or similar to 4.3, more than similar to 500 Myr prior to the time when we observe it.