SEARCH FOR CORRELATIONS OF LYMAN-ALPHA CLOUDS AND METAL SYSTEMS ON CLOSELY SPACED LINES OF SIGHT

Spectra of four quasars projected within 2.degrees 8 on the sky with e mission redshifts near 1.9 were analyzed for correlations of metal-lin e and Ly alpha absorbers. The group of bright quasars LB 9601, LB 9605 , LB 9612, and LB 9615 probes scales on the sky of clusters and superc lusters of galaxies. No significant correlation signal was detected in any of the three pairs of sight lines tested out to a velocity separa tion of 10,000 km s(-1). One common pair of Ly alpha absorbers was new ly detected, with velocities identical to within 10 km s(-1). Four new heavy-element absorption systems are reported. Three C IV systems, on e along each of three of the lines of sight, agree in velocity to with in 4% of the accessible velocity range, which may indicate that the ab sorbers are associated. No evidence is found that intervening hydrogen clouds are correlated on the scale of superclusters of galaxies.