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\begin{document}

\title{The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the z=2.72 QSO
HS~1700+6416. I.\,Results on heavy-element absorption systems.\thanks{Based on 
observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space
 Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by Aura, Inc., under NASA contract
NAS\,5--26\,555.}}
\author{S.~Vogel
\and D.~Reimers}
\offprints{S.~Vogel}
\institute{Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, Federal 
Republic of Germany}
\maketitle

\begin{table*}[t]
\caption[]{Observational parameters for HST spectra
\label{obspar}}
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{cccccc} \hline
Detector/ &Exposure time &Dispersion &Resolution &Wavelength range 
&Date\stru{2ex}\\
Grating  &[s] &[\AA\,per Pixel] &FWHM\,[\AA] &[\AA] &\stru{2ex} \\ \hline
Blue G130H &14\,039.87 &0.25 &1.0 &1150--1606 &1992\,Feb\,13,14\stru{3ex} \\
Red G190H &16\,119.84 &0.36 &1.44 &1575--2310 &1991\,Dec\,13\\
Red G270H &8\,999.91 &0.51 &2.0 &2200--3280 &1991\,Dec\,14\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

 \begin{table}
\caption{ Resonance lines and atomic parameters
\label{resonance}}
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{|lccc|} \hline
ion &$\lambda_{Vacuum}$ [\AA] &f &$\gamma$ [s$^{-1}$] \stru{3ex}\\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.6701 &0.4162 &6.265E+08\stru{3ex} \\
H\,{\sc i} &1025.7223 &0.791E$-$1 &1.897E+08 \\
H\,{\sc i} &972.5368 &0.2899E$-$1 &8.126E+07 \\
H\,{\sc i} &949.743 &0.1394E$-$1 &4.203E+07 \\
H\,{\sc i} &937.8035 &0.780E$-$2 &2.45E+07 \\
H\,{\sc i} &930.7483 &0.4814E$-$2 &1.2E+07 \\
H\,{\sc i} &926.2257 &0.3183E$-$2 &8.2E+06 \\
H\,{\sc i} &923.1504 &0.2216E$-$2 &5.8E+06 \\
H\,{\sc i} &920.9631 &0.1605E$-$2 &4.2E+06 \\
He\,{\sc i} &522.213 &0.0302 &2.55E+08 \\
He\,{\sc i} &537.03 &0.0734 &5.796E+08 \\
He\,{\sc i} &584.334 &0.2762 &1.801E+09 \\ 
C\,{\sc ii} &687.06 &0.27 &2.2E+09 \\
C\,{\sc ii} &903.62 &0.17 &4.19E+09 \\
C\,{\sc ii} &903.96 &0.34 &4.1E+09 \\
C\,{\sc ii} &1036.3367 &0.1231 &2.29E+09\\
C\,{\sc ii} &1334.5323 &0.1278 &2.87E+08 \\
C\,{\sc iii} &386.2 &0.229 &3.8E+09  \\
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &0.768 &1.775E+09\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.195 &0.1908 &2.645E+08 \\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &0.09522 &2.641E+08 \\
N\,{\sc ii} &533.5 &0.26 &3.692E+09 \\
N\,{\sc ii} &644.62 &0.23 &1.11E+10 \\
N\,{\sc ii} &671.391 &0.089 &1.32E+09 \\
N\,{\sc ii} &915.612 &0.1449 &1.151E+09 \\
N\,{\sc ii} &1083.99 &0.1031 &3.508E+08 \\
N\,{\sc iii} &374.20 &0.39 &9.4E+09 \\
N\,{\sc iii} &685.00 &0.15 &6.4E+09 \\
N\,{\sc iii} &685.51 &0.31 &6.5E+09 \\
N\,{\sc iii} &763.34 &0.11 &3.8E+09 \\
N\,{\sc iii} &989.799 &0.1066 &4.352E+08 \\
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &0.62 &2.4E+09 \\
N\,{\sc v} &1238.821 &0.157 &3.411E+08 \\
N\,{\sc v} &1242.804 &0.07823 &3.378E+08 \\
O\,{\sc ii} &539.09 &0.056 &8.6E+08 \\
O\,{\sc ii} &539.547 &0.037 &8.6E+08 \\
O\,{\sc ii} &539.853 &0.019 &8.6E+08 \\
O\,{\sc ii} &833.32 &0.15 &1.4E+09 \\ 
O\,{\sc ii} &834.46 &0.21 &1.3E+09 \\
O\,{\sc iii} &507.39 &0.19 &1.49E+10 \\
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &0.18 &2.44E+09 \\
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &0.15 &8.43E+08 \\
O\,{\sc iv} &553.328 &0.13 &8.2E+09 \\
O\,{\sc iv} &554.074 &0.25 &8.3E+09 \\
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &0.10 &5.4E+09 \\
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &0.15 &9.1E+08 \\
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &0.514 &3.0E+09 \\
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.9261 &0.1329 &4.163E+08 \\
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.6167 &0.0661 &4.095E+08 \\
Si\,{\sc ii} &989.867 &0.2 &7.87E+08\\
Si\,{\sc ii} &1190.4158 &0.25 &3.503E+09 \\
Si\,{\sc ii} &1193.2897 &0.4991 &3.495E+09 \\
Si\,{\sc ii} &1260.4221 &1.007 &2.533E+09 \\
Si\,{\sc ii} &1304.3702 &0.1473 &1.72E+09 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table}

\begin{table}
{\bf Table~2} continued
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{|lccc|} \hline
ion &$\lambda_{Vacuum}$ [\AA] &f &$\gamma$ [s$^{-1}$] \stru{3ex}\\ \hline
Si\,{\sc ii} &1526.7066 &0.2303 &1.96E+09\stru{3ex}    \\
Si\,{\sc ii} &1808.0126 &0.0055 &6.749E+06 \\
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.5 &1.669 &2.55E+09 \\
Si\,{\sc iv} &457.818 &0.023 &3.6E+08 \\
Si\,{\sc iv} &458.155 &0.011 &3.6E+08 \\
Si\,{\sc iv} &1393.755 &0.514 &8.825E+08 \\
Si\,{\sc iv} &1402.77 &0.2553 &8.656E+08\\
S\,{\sc iii} &1012.502 &0.0355 &2.281E+08 \\
S\,{\sc iii} &1190.208 &0.02217 &6.232E+07 \\
S\,{\sc iv} &744.92 &0.37 &2.2E+09\\
S\,{\sc iv} &748.4 &0.74 &8.8E+09 \\
S\,{\sc iv} &1062.662 &0.03999 &1.41E+08 \\
S\,{\sc v} &786.48 &1.46 &5.25E+09 \\
S\,{\sc vi} &933.378 &0.4414 &1.69E+09 \\
S\,{\sc vi} &944.523 &0.2181 &1.631E+09 \\
Al\,{\sc ii} &1670.7874 &1.833 &1.46E+09 \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &560.39 &0.0068 &4.8E+07 \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &695.817 &0.0076 &5.3E+07 \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &696.212 &0.0037 &5.1E+07 \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &1854.7164 &0.56 &5.432E+08 \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &1862.7895 &0.2789 &5.361E+08 \\
Ne\,{\sc iii} &489.5 &0.19 &6.9E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc iv} &541.124 &0.056 &2.5E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc iv} &542.076 &0.11 &2.5E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc iv} &543.884 &0.17 &2.5E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc v} &357.955 &0.14 &2.18E+10 \\
Ne\,{\sc v} &480.406 &0.14 &8.E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc v} &568.418 &0.11 &1.35E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc vi} &558.59 &0.14 &1.78E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc vii} &465.221 &0.57 &5.8E+09 \\
Ne\,{\sc viii} &770.402 &0.102 &5.72E+08 \\
Ne\,{\sc viii} &780.324 &0.05 &5.5E+08 \\
P\,{\sc iv} &950.657 &1.163 &2.86E+09 \\
P\,{\sc v} &1117.977 &0.4732 &1.263E+09 \\
P\,{\sc v} &1128.008 &0.2345 &1.229E+09 \\
Mg\,{\sc i} &2026.4768 &0.1154 &7.25E+07 \\
Mg\,{\sc i} &2852.9642 &1.83 &5.E+08 \\
Mg\,{\sc ii} &2796.352 &0.6123 &2.612E+08 \\
Mg\,{\sc ii} &2803.531 &0.3054 &2.592E+08 \\
Mg\,{\sc vi} &401.76 &0.26 &3.6E+09 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &1142.3656 &0.005 &3.195E+07 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &1143.226 &0.01331 &6.79E+07 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &1144.9379 &0.105 &4.45E+08 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2344.214 &0.1907 &2.68E+08\\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2374.4612 &0.02818 &2.99E+08 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2382.765 &0.3006 &3.1E+08 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2586.65 &0.06457 &2.72E+08 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2600.1729 &0.2239 &2.7E+08 \\
Fe\,{\sc iii} &1122.526 &0.07884 &5.366E+08 \\
Ar\,{\sc v} &822.159 &0.51 &2.98E+09 \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2576.877 &0.3508 &2.741E+08 \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2594.499 &0.271 &2.685E+08 \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2606.462 &0.1927 &2.648E+08 \\
Zn\,{\sc ii} &2026.136 &0.515 &4.184E+08 \\
Zn\,{\sc ii} &2062.664 &0.2529 &3.965E+08 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3a.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=0.7217.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &2093.02 &2092.86 &-0.16 &2.1 &1.9 &1.07 
& O\,{\sc iv}\,608 z=2.439\stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &1765.99 &1766.06 &0.07 &2.1 &1.2 &0.76 & \\         
H\,{\sc i} & 972.54 &1674.42 &1674.34 &-0.08 &2.0 &0.9 &0.64 &\\         
C\,{\sc ii} &1334.53 &2297.66 &2298.04 &0.38 &1.7 &0.4 &0.26 & \\        
C\,{\sc ii} &1036.34 &1784.26 & & & & &0.15 &no line visible\\        
C\,{\sc iii} & 977.02 &1682.14 &1682.10 &-0.04 &1.5 &1.1 &0.86 
& O\,{\sc iii}\,507 z=2.315\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &2665.53 & & & & &0.45 & C\,{\sc iii}\,977 z=1.725\\        
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &2669.96 & & & & &0.28 & H\,{\sc i}\,937 z=1.8465\\        
N\,{\sc iii} &989.80 &1704.14 &1704.43 &0.29 &1.7 &0.5 &0.29 &Ly-edge z=1.8465 \\       
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &1776.67  &1776.09 &-0.6 &2.0 &0.9 &0.45 & 
He\,{\sc i}\,537 z=2.308\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &1786.46 &1786.61 &0.15  &1.9 &0.5 &0.33 &\\        
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &2077.23 &2077.52 &0.29 &1.0 &0.4 &0.50 &\\      
Si\,{\sc iv} &1393.76 &2399.63 &2399.58 &-0.05 & & &0.40 & \\       
Si\,{\sc iv} &1402.77 &2415.15 &2416.37 & &3.3 &1.3 &0.24 & 
C\,{\sc iii}\,977 z=1.4735\\       
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}
\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3b.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=0.8642.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &2266.25 &2266.33 &0.08 & & &1.30 &complex blend\stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &1912.15 &1912.49 &0.34 &2.1 &2.0 &1.00 & 
O\,{\sc iii}\,702 z=1.725\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &1813.00 &1813.09 &0.09 &2.0 &1.6 &0.83 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &1770.51 &1770.32 &-0.19 &2.2 &1.4 &0.73 &complex blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80  &1748.25 &1748.49 &0.24 &1.8 &0.9 &0.63 & \\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75  &1735.10 &1735.18 &0.08 &1.4 &0.7 &0.54 &\\         
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &1923.72 &1923.56 &-0.16 &2.3 &2.0 & &blend\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &1934.33 &1934.26 &-0.07 &4.0 &2.8 & &complex blend\\        
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &1821.36 &1821.59 &0.23 &2.6 &1.9 &1.1 & O\,{\sc iv}\,553,554 
z=2.290\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &2886.15 & & & & &0.58 &blend\\        
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &2890.95 &2891.45 &0.5 & & &0.35 &Ly-edge z=2.1678\\        
N\,{\sc iii} &989.80 &1845.18 & & & & &0.5 & He\,{\sc i}\,537 z=2.433,2.439\\       
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &2249.16 &2249.61 &0.45 &2.1 &1.1 &0.86 &complex blend\\      
Si\,{\sc iv} &1393.76 &2598.24 & & & & &0.35 &Ly-edge z=1.8465\\       
Si\,{\sc iv} &1402.77 &2615.04 & & & & &0.21 &Ly-edge z=1.8465\\       
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3c.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=1.1572.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &2622.44 &2623.13 &0.69 &3.5 &2.7 &2.07 & H\,{\sc i}\,920 
z=1.8465\stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &2212.69 &2212.80 &0.11 &2.2  &1.8 &1.50 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &2097.96 &2097.48  &-0.48 &2.8 &2.2 &1.27 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &2048.79 &2048.81 &0.02 &1.6 &1.1 &1.14 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &2023.03 &2022.93 &-0.1 &1.6 &1.1 &1.04 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &2007.81 &2007.63 &-0.18 & & &0.95 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &1998.05 &1998.00 &-0.05 &1.7 &1.0 &0.86 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &1991.42 &1991.54 &0.12 &1.6 &0.6 &0.79 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &1986.70 &1986.82 &-0.08 &1.8 &0.8 &0.71 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &919.36 &1983.25 &1982.80 &-0.45 &1.8 &1.2 &0.62 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &918.13 &1980.59 &1980.29 &-0.3 & & &0.56 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &917.18 &1978.54 & & & & &0.49 &blend\\         
C\,{\sc ii} &1036.34 &2235.59 &2235.37 &-0.22 &1.5 &0.3 &0.3 &+\\        
C\,{\sc ii} &1334.53 &2878.85 & & & & &0.47 &blend\\        
C\,{\sc ii} &903.62 &1949.29 &1949.26 &-0.03 &3.8 &1.6 &0.3 & N\,{\sc iii}\,685 
z=1.8465\\        
C\,{\sc ii} &903.96 &1950.02 &1949.26 & & & &0.47 & N\,{\sc iii}\,685 z=1.8465\\        
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &2107.63 &2107.98 &0.35 &2.0 &1.7 &1.40 &+\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &1796.80 &1796.82 &0.02 &1.7 &1.0 &0.9 &+\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &1699.25 &1699.20 &-0.05 &1.7 &1.2 &0.82 &Ly-edge z=0.8642\\
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &2226.07 &2225.99 &-0.08 & & &0.6 &blend\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &2238.35 &2238.54 &0.19 &2.0 &0.7 &0.4 &\\        
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &2602.66 & & & & &0.37 &Ly-edge z=1.8465\\
S\,{\sc v} &786.48 &1696.59 &1696.08 &-0.51 &2.0 &0.6 &0.6 &\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3d.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=1.3714.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &2882.84 &2883.23 &0.39 &3.0 &2.3 &1.4 & \stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &2432.40 &2433.49 &  &3.6 &2.6 &0.9 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &2306.27 &2305.87 &-0.4 &2.2 &1.4 &0.8 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &2252.22 & & & & &0.6 &complex blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &2223.91 &2223.67 &-0.24 & & &0.5 &complex blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &2207.18 &2206.68 &-0.5 &1.9 &0.5 &0.4 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &2196.45 &2195.97 &-0.48 &1.8 &0.6 &0.3 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &2189.16 &2188.69 &-0.47 &1.7 &0.4 &0.2 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &2183.97 &2184.27 &0.3 &3.5 &0.8 &0.16 & \\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &2316.91 &2317.68 & &3.1 &1.4 &0.6 &blend\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &3671.39 & & & & &0.6 & Ly$\beta$ z=2.579\\        
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &3677.50 &3678.37 &0.87 &0.9 &0.6 &0.4 &\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &1867.98 &1867.28 &-0.7 &1.5 &0.6 &0.5 &N\,{\sc iii}\,685 z=1.725\\        
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &1814.45 &1813.09 & &2.0 &1.6 &0.5 & Ly$\gamma$ z=0.8642\\        
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &2861.09 &2860.94 &-0.15 &2.8 &1.7 &0.4 
&O\,{\sc ii}\,833, O\,{\sc iii}\,832 z=2.433\\      
Al\,{\sc ii} &1670.79 &3962.11 &3962.04 &-0.07 &2.2 &2.0 &0.4 &blend\\       
Al\,{\sc iii} &1854.72 &4398.27 &4397.87 &-0.4 &1.2 &0.8 &0.6 &blend\\      
Al\,{\sc iii} &1862.79 &4417.42 & & & & &0.3 &blend\\      
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}
\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3e.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=1.4735.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &3006.96 &3007.33 &0.37 &4.1 &3.4 &1.4 & H\,{\sc i}\,949 
z=2.1678\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &2537.12 &2537.72 &0.6 &3.6 &3.1 &0.9 &H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=1.725\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &2405.57 &2405.36 &-0.21 &4.0 &2.1 &0.7 & \\         
N\,{\sc iii} &685.00 &1694.35 & & & & &0.25 &noisy\\       
N\,{\sc iii} &685.51 &1695.61 & & & & &0.4 &noisy\\       
N\,{\sc iii} &763.34 &1888.12 &1887.20 & &1.8 &1.4 &0.25 &blend\\       
N\,{\sc iii} &989.80 &2448.27 &2448.31 &0.04 &1.6 &0.5  &0.4 &\\       
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &3064.22 &3061.63 & &4.4 &3.4 &0.4 & H\,{\sc i}\,923 z=2.315 etc\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &3074.08 & & & & &0.22 &no line\\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &2416.66 &2416.37 &-0.29 &3.3 &1.3 &0.6 & O\,{\sc iii}\,702 
z=2.439\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &3829.45  & & & &0.4 &no line\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &3835.83 &3835.64 &-0.19 &0.8 &0.7 &0.2 & \\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &1948.40 &1949.26 & &3.8 &1.6 &0.37 &complex blend\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3f.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=1.725.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &2795.09 &2795.98 & &3.9 &3.5 &1.4 & Mg\,{\sc ii} z=0\stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &2650.16 &2649.93 &-0.23 &2.9 &2.4 &1.3 & H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=1.8465\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &2588.05 &2587.94 &-0.11 &4.0 &2.4 &1.1 & Fe\,{\sc ii} z=0\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &2555.51 &2556.00 &0.49 & & &1.0 & \\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &2536.29 & & & & &0.98 & Ly$\beta$ z=1.4735 \\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &2523.97 &2524.31 &0.34 &2.8 &1.4 &0.9 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &2515.58 &2515.74 &0.16 &2.9 &1.4 &0.84 & O\,{\sc iii}\,702 z=2.579\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &2509.62 &2510.21 &0.59 &1.9 &0.8 &0.8 & \\         
H\,{\sc i} &919.36 &2505.26 &2505.38 &0.12 & & &0.7 &\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &1913.85 &1912.49 & &2.1 &2.0 &0.6 & Ly$\beta$ z=0.8642\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2269.73 & & & & &0.7 &complex blend\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2146.51 &2146.46 &-0.05 &1.7 &0.5 &0.5 &+\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &2812.00 &2810.76 & &4.7 &3.6 &0.44 &blend\\
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &2827.51 & & & & &0.27 &no line visible\\
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &2085.01 &2083.09 &-1.92 &1.7 &0.9 &0.25 & O\,{\sc v}\,629 
z=2.308 \\        
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &2662.38 &2663.46 &  &3.7 &2.1 &1.1 &complex blend\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &4218.83 &4218.06 &-0.77 &1.1 &0.8 &0.44 & \\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &4225.85 &4225.56 &-0.29 &1.1 &0.7 &0.25 &blend\\        
Si\,{\sc iv} &1393.76 &3797.98 & & & & &0.38 &no line \\       
Si\,{\sc iv} &1402.77 &3822.55 &3822.41 &-0.14 &0.8 &0.7 &0.22 
& Si\,{\sc iii}1206 z=2.1678\\       
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3g.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=1.8465.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &3460.41 & & & & & &outside observed range\stru{3ex} \\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &2919.72 &2918.19 &-1.53 &2.5 &2.0 &1.4 & H\,{\sc i}\,920 z=2.1678\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 972.54 &2768.33 &2768.11 &-0.22 &3.1 &2.1 &1.2 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 949.74 &2703.44 &2703.97 &0.53 &4.1 &3.0 &1.1 & O\,{\sc iv}\,787 z=2.433\\
H\,{\sc i} & 937.80 &2669.46 &2669.20 &-0.26 & & &1.0  &complex blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 930.75 &2649.38 &2649.93 &0.55 &2.9 &2.4 &0.9 & Ly$\gamma$ z=1.725\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 926.23 &2636.50 &2636.35 &-0.15 &2.0 &0.8 &0.8 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 923.15 &2627.75 &2628.38 &0.63 &3.1 &1.8 &0.77 & N\,{\sc iv}\,765 z=2.433\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 920.96 &2621.52 &2623.13 &1.61 &3.5 &2.7 &0.7 & Ly$\alpha$ z=1.1572 \\         
H\,{\sc i} & 919.36 &2616.96 &2616.66 &-0.3 &1.8 &0.8 &0.6 &\\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &2781.09 &2780.59 &-0.5 &2.6 &1.2 &0.9 &+\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &4406.94 &4406.01 &-0.93 &1.9 &1.7 &0.57 &blend Ly$\alpha$\\        
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &4414.27 &4413.58  &-0.69 &1.3 &1.2 &0.34 &blend\\        
N\,{\sc iv} & 765.14 &2177.97 &2178.17 &0.2 &4.5 &3.2 &0.7 & O\,{\sc iv}\,608 z=2.579\\        
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &3526.30 & & & & &0.37 &blend, upper limit\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &3537.64 & & & & &0.21 &noisy\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &1999.18 &1998.00 &-1.18 &1.7 &1.0 &0.48 & H\,{\sc i}\,926 
z=1.1572\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2370.94 &2370.81 &-0.13 &2.8 &1.5 &0.6 &complex blend\\       
O\,{\sc iv} & 608.39 &1731.78 &1731.01 &-0.77 &1.4 &0.5 &0.43 &\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2242.22 &2241.02 &-1.2 &1.7 &0.8 &0.65 &G190H \\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2242.22 &2242.61 &0.39 &2.7 &0.9 & &G270H \\        
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &1792.53 &1792.30 &-0.23 &1.8 &0.9 &0.7 &+\\         
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &2937.38 &2937.46 &0.08 & & &0.6 & H\,{\sc i}\,926 z=2.1678\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &2953.58 &2952.82 &-0.76 &2.6 &1.7 &0.4 &blend\\        
Ne\,{\sc viii} &770.40 &2192.94 &2192.05 &-0.89 &1.8 &0.4 &0.3 &\\
Ne\,{\sc viii} &780.32 &2221.19 & & & & &0.2 &\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3h.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.1678.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &3851.00 &3851.34 &0.34 &1.8 &2.0 &1.9 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &3249.28 &3249.09 &-0.19 &2.9 &1.6 &1.4 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &3080.80 &3079.89 &-0.91 &3.7 &1.9 &1.2 & H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=2.308\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3008.60 &3007.33 &-1.27 &4.1 &3.4 &1.1 & Ly$\alpha$ z=1.4735\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &2970.77 &2970.71 &-0.06 &2.9 &1.4 &0.98 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &2948.42 &2948.49 &0.07 &2.5 &1.0 &0.92 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &2934.10 &2935.13 &1.03 &4.9 &2.0 &0.86 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &2924.36 &2924.29 &-0.07 &2.3 &0.8 &0.8 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &2917.43 &2918.19 &0.76 &2.5 &2.0 &0.73 & Ly$\beta$ z=1.8465\\         
H\,{\sc i} &919.36 &2912.35 &2912.59 &0.24 &1.8 &0.6 &0.66 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &918.13 &2908.45 &2908.62 &0.17 &2.3 &1.0 &0.6 &edge\\         
H\,{\sc i} &917.18 &2905.45 &2905.66 &0.21 & & &0.57 &edge\\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &3095.00 &3094.85 &-0.15 &2.3 &0.8 &0.7 &+\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &4912.53 &4912.78 &0.25 &0.37 &0.24 &0.22 &Echelle data\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &4904.36 &4904.82 &0.46 &0.34 &0.3 &0.4 &Echelle data\\
N\,{\sc iii} &685.00 &2169.94 &2171.10 &1.16 &2.2 &0.7 &0.1 & \\
N\,{\sc iii} &685.51 &2171.56 &2171.10 &-0.46 &2.2 &0.7 &0.2 &\\       
N\,{\sc iii} &763.34 &2418.11 & & & & &0.1 & C\,{\sc iii}\,977 z=1.4735\\       
N\,{\sc iii} &989.80 &3135.49 &3135.17 &-0.32 & & &0.13 &Ly-edge z=2.433\\       
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &2423.81 &2422.79 &-1.02 &2.3 &0.8 &0.5 &blend ?\\        
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &2224.84 & & & & &0.4 & H\,{\sc i}\,937 z=1.3714\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2638.56 &2639.28 &0.72 &2.2 &0.6 &0.5 &\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &553.33 &1752.83 &1752.33 &-0.5 &1.3 &0.5 &0.4 & \\        
O\,{\sc iv} & 554.07 &1755.20 &1754.65 &-0.5 &1.8 &0.8 &0.5 &\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &1927.26 &1927.28 &0.02 &1.8 &0.7 &0.4 &\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2495.31 & & & & &0.63 &Ly-edge z=1.725\\        
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &1994.86 &1994.75 &-0.11 &1.6 &0.6 &0.6 &+\\         
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &3268.94 &3269.97 & &4.0 &2.8 &0.73 & O\,{\sc vi}\,1037 outside\\        
Si\,{\sc ii} &1260.42 &3992.77 &3992.69 &-0.08 &0.9 &0.7 &0.63 &+\\       
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &3821.95 &3822.41 &0.47 &0.8 &0.7 &0.5  &
 Si\,{\sc iv}\,1402 z=1.725\\      
He\,{\sc i} &584.33 &1851.05 &1851.11 &0.06 &1.9 &0.9 &0.6 &\\         
He\,{\sc i} &537.03 &1701.20 &1701.53 &0.33 &1.0 &0.43 &0.44 &Ly-edge z=0.8642\\         
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3i.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.189.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &3876.77 &3877.38 & &2.1 &2.4 &1.7 & \stru{3ex}\\
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &3271.03 &3269.97 & &4.0 &2.8 &1.08 &O\,{\sc vi}\,1031 z=2.1678\\
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &3101.42 &3101.65 &0.23 &2.7 &1.7 &0.79 &H\,{\sc i}\,937 z=2.308\\
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3028.72 &3028.81 &0.09 & & &0.54 &Ly-edge z=2.315\\
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &2990.66 &2990.46 &-0.2 &3.3 &0.7 &0.35 & \\
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &3115.72 &3115.87 &0.15 &2.9 &1.1 &0.45 &comlex blend\\
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &2440.03 &2439.19 & &4.0 &1.9 &0.51 &blend Ly$\alpha$\\
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &2008.21 & & & & & &complex blend\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}
\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3j.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.290.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &3999.55 & & & & &1.8 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &3199.65 &3199.55 &-0.1 &4.1 &3.0 &0.95 & H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=2.439\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3124.65 &3124.18 &-0.47 &3.8 &2.3 &0.76 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &3085.37 &3085.09 &-0.28 &3.1 &2.7 &0.6 & H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=2.315\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &3062.16 &3061.63 &-0.53 &4.4 &3.4 &0.43 & H\,{\sc i}\,923 z=2.315\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &3047.28 &3046.70 &-0.58 &3.6 &2.3 &0.3 &Ly lines z=2.308,2.315\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2740.34 &2740.98 &0.64 &5.7 &1.2 &0.4 &blend\\
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &2071.81 &2071.87 &0.06 &1.5 &0.7 &0.7 &+\\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &3214.40 & & & & &0.8 &complex blend\\       
C\,{\sc ii} &687.06 &2260.43 &2260.59 &0.16 &1.4 &0.4 &0.1 &\\
C\,{\sc ii} &903.96 &2974.03 &2973.47 &-0.56  &1.7 &0.2 &0.2 & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3k.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.308.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &4021.44 &4021.07 &-0.37 & & &1.9 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &3217.15 &3217.62 &0.47 & & &1.0 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3141.75 &3141.58 &-0.17 & & &0.76  &Ly-edge z=2.433\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &3102.25 &3101.65 &-0.6 &2.7 &1.7 &0.6 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &3078.92 &3079.89 &  &3.7 &1.9 &0.43 & Ly$\gamma$ z=2.1678\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &3063.95 &3061.63 & &4.4 &3.4 &0.3 & H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=2.29, H\,{\sc i}\,923 z=2.315\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &3053.78 &3054.37 &0.59 &5.2 &3.2 &0.23 & H\,{\sc i}\,920 z=2.315\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &3046.55 &3046.70 &0.15 &3.6 &2.3 &0.17 & H\,{\sc i}\,926 z=2.290,
H\,{\sc i}\,919 z=2.315\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &2323.31 &2323.22 &-0.09 & & &0.36 &complex blend\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2755.33 &2755.97 &0.64 &2.1 &0.4 &0.4 &+\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &553.33 &1830.41 &1830.49 &0.08 &1.3 &0.4 &0.46 &+\\
O\,{\sc iv} &554.07 &1832.88 &  & & & &0.56 & O\,{\sc iv}\,553 z=2.315\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &2012.55 & & & & &0.5 &complex blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2605.74 & & & & &0.76 &Ly-edge 1.8465\\        
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &2083.15 &2083.09 &-0.06 &1.7 &0.9 &0.83 &+\\         
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &2531.08 &2531.52 &0.44 &2.6 &1.2 &0.53 & \\        
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &4098.02 &4097.81 &-0.21 &1.3 &0.8 &0.53 &\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &4111.20 &4111.81 &0.61 &1.0 &0.4 &0.3 &noisy\\         
C\,{\sc iii} &977.02 &3231.98 &3231.85 &-0.13 &1.8 &0.5 &0.5 &+\\       
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &3991.10 &3990.94 &-0.16 &0.9 &0.4 &0.36 &+\\      
Ne\,{\sc v} &568.418 &1880.32 &1879.72 &-0.6 &2.0 &0.57 &0.4 & \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3l.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.315.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &4029.95 &4029.98 &0.03 & & &2.4 & \stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 972.54 &3223.96 &3224.46 &0.5 &3.3 &2.7 &1.5 & H\,{\sc i}\,937 z=2.439\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 949.74 &3148.40 &3148.49 &0.09 & & &1.3 &Ly-edge z=2.433\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 937.80 &3108.82 &3109.62 &0.8 &3.8 &2.4 &1.2 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 930.75 &3085.43 &3085.09 &-0.34 &3.1 &2.7 &1.1 & H\,{\sc i}\,937 z=2.290\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 926.23 &3070.44 &3070.33 &-0.11 &2.2 &1.0 &1.0 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 923.15 &3060.24 & & & & &0.96 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 920.96 &3052.99 &3054.37 &1.38 &5.2 &3.2 &0.9 & H\,{\sc i}\,923 z=2.308 \\         
H\,{\sc i} & 919.36 &3047.68 & & & & &0.8 & Ly lines z=2.290,2.308\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 918.13 &3043.60 & & & & &0.7 &edge\\         
H\,{\sc i} & 917.18 &3040.46 &3040.63 &0.17 & & &0.66 &edge\\         
C\,{\sc ii} & 687.06 &2277.60 &2277.71 &0.11 &1.5 &0.7 &0.3 &\\        
C\,{\sc ii} & 903.62 &2995.50 & & & & &0.3 &blend\\        
C\,{\sc ii} & 903.96 &2996.63 &2998.30 & &4.4 &2.5 &0.5 &complex blend\\        
C\,{\sc ii} &1334.53 &4423.97 &4423.59 &-0.38 &1.2 &0.9 &0.5 &blend?\\        
C\,{\sc iii} & 977.02 &3238.82 &3239.20 &0.38 &2.4 &2.0 &1.7 &+\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &5132.27 &5132.53 &0.26 & &0.8 &0.86 &blend, Echelle data\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &5140.80 &5140.90 &0.1 & &0.7 &0.53 &blend, Echelle data\\
N\,{\sc iv} & 765.14 &2536.44 &2537.72 & &3.6 &3.1 & &H\,{\sc i}\,930 z=1.725 \\        
O\,{\sc iii} & 507.39 &1682.00 &1682.10 &0.1 &1.5 &1.1 &0.27 &
 C\,{\sc iii}\,977 z=0.7217\\       
O\,{\sc iii} & 702.33 &2328.22 &2329.55 & &3.5 &1.9 &0.43 &complex blend\\       
O\,{\sc iii} & 832.93 &2761.16 &2762.58 & &3.1 &2.1 &0.53 &blend \\       
O\,{\sc iv} & 553.33 &1834.28 &1834.09 &-0.19 &2.7 &2.1 &0.46 &blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} & 554.07 &1836.76 &1837.09 &0.33 &1.8 &1.5 &0.6 &blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} & 608.39 &2016.81 &2016.86 &0.05 &2.0 &1.4 &0.5 &complex blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} & 787.71 &2611.26 & & & & &0.76 &Ly-edge z=1.8465\\        
O\,{\sc v} & 629.73 &2087.55 &2087.84 &0.29 &1.9 &1.7 &0.8 & O\,{\sc iv}\,608 z=2.433\\         
He\,{\sc i} & 584.33 &1937.07 &1936.95 &-0.12 &1.8 &1.0 &0.7 &\\         
He\,{\sc i} & 537.03 &1780.25 &1779.91 &-0.34 &1.5 &0.4 &0.46 &\\         
Si\,{\sc ii} &1190.42 &3946.23 & & & & &0.4 &no line\\       
Si\,{\sc ii} &1193.29 &3955.76 &3955.60 &-0.16 &0.7 &0.6 &0.66 &+\\       
Si\,{\sc ii} &1260.42 &4178.30 & & & & &1.0 & Ly$\alpha$ z=2.433,2.439\\       
Si\,{\sc ii} &1304.37 &4323.99 & & & & &0.3 &noisy\\       
Si\,{\sc iv} &1393.76 &4620.29 &4620.90 &0.6 & &0.96 &0.86 &Echelle data\\
Si\,{\sc iv} &1402.77 &4650.18 &4650.48 &0.3 & &0.5 &0.56 &Echelle data\\
Ne\,{\sc v} & 568.42 &1884.31 &1884.40 &0.09 & & &0.46 &noisy\\        
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3m.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.433.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &4173.40 & & & & &2.9 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &3521.30 &3521.22 &-0.08 & & &2.1 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3260.47 &3260.33 &-0.14 &3.0 &2.5 &1.5 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &3219.48 &3219.05 &-0.43 & & &1.4 & Ly$\gamma$ z=2.308\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &3195.26 &3195.39 &0.13 &2.8 &1.7 &1.2 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &3179.73 &3179.90 &0.17 &2.3 &1.2 &1.1 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &3169.18 &3168.68 &-0.5 &3.5 &2.2 &1.0 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &920.96 &3161.67 &3161.76 &0.09 &2.0 &0.8 &0.86 &+\\         
H\,{\sc i} &919.36 &3156.17 &3156.45 &0.28 &2.0 &1.0 &0.7 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &918.13 &3151.94 &3151.95 &0.01 & & &0.62 &edge\\         
H\,{\sc i} &917.18 &3148.68 &3148.49 &-0.19 & & &0.51 &edge\\         
O\,{\sc ii} &834.46 &2864.70 &2864.64 &-0.06 &3.7 &2.2 &0.9 
&O\,{\sc iii}\,832 z=2.439\\        
O\,{\sc ii} &833.32 &2860.79 &2860.94 &0.15 &2.8 &1.7 &0.8 
& Si\,{\sc iii}\,1206 z=1.3714\\        
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2859.45 &2860.94 &1.5 &2.8 &1.7 &0.62 &
 O\,{\sc iii}\,832 z=2.439\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &2411.10 & & & & &0.51 &complex blend\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &507.39 &1741.87 &1741.93 &0.06 &2.6 &1.3 &0.31 &blend\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2704.21 &2703.97 &-0.24 &4.1 &3.0 &0.82 & H\,{\sc i}\,949 
z=1.8465\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &2088.60 &2087.84 &-0.76 &1.9 &1.7  &0.45 & 
O\,{\sc v}\,629 z=2.315\\   
O\,{\sc iv} &554.07 &1902.14 &1902.46 &0.32 &2.0 &1.5 &0.62 & O\,{\sc iv}\,553 z=2.439\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &553.33 &1899.58 &1898.99 &-0.59 &1.4 &0.44 &0.45 &\\        
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &2161.86 &2161.29 &-0.57 &2.7 &1.8 &0.96 &blend\\         
O\,{\sc vi} &1037.62 &3562.14 &3562.70 &0.56 &1.2 &0.5 &0.4 &\\        
O\,{\sc vi} &1031.93 &3542.60 &3542.99 &0.39 &1.5 &1.0 &0.6 &broad absorption\\        
N\,{\sc iv} &765.14 &2626.73 &2628.38 &1.65 &3.1 &1.8 &0.6 & H\,{\sc i}\,923 z=1.8465\\        
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &4266.55 &4267.01 &0.46 &1.6 &1.3 &0.17 &blend \\         
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &4252.87 &4252.95 &0.08 &0.8 &0.3 &0.34 &\\       
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &5314.95 &5315.4 &0.45 & &0.6 &0.65 &Echelle data\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &5323.79 &5324.1 &0.31 & &0.4 &0.38 &Echelle data \\  
Si\,{\sc iii} &1206.50 &4141.91 &4141.39 &-0.52 &1.1 &1.1 &1.1 & \\      
He\,{\sc i} &584.33 &2006.02 & & & & &0.9 & Ly7 z=1.1572 \\         
He\,{\sc i} &537.03 &1843.62 &1843.70 &0.08 &2.0 &0.9 &0.55 
& N\,{\sc iii}\,989 z=0.8642\\         
He\,{\sc i} &522.21 &1792.76 &1792.30 &-0.46 &1.8 &0.9 &0.3 
& O\,{\sc v}\,629 z=1.8465\\         
Ne\,{\sc vi} &558.59 &1917.64 &1918.36 &0.72 &2.4 &1.0 &0.34 &Ne\,{\sc vi}\,558 z=2.439\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3n.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.439.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &4180.69 & & & & &1.7 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &3527.46 &3527.47 &0.01 &1.6 &1.6 &1.2 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &949.74 &3266.17 &3266.06 &-0.11 &3.0 &1.7 &0.8 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &937.80 &3225.11 &3224.46 & &3.3 &2.7 &0.7 & Ly$\gamma$ z=2.315\\         
H\,{\sc i} &930.75 &3200.84 &3199.55 & &4.1 &3.0 &0.6 & Ly$\gamma$ z=2.290\\         
H\,{\sc i} &926.23 &3185.29 &3185.08 &-0.21 &2.0 &0.5 &0.4 &\\         
H\,{\sc i} &923.15 &3174.71 &3174.20 &-0.51 &2.3 &0.9 &0.3 &\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2864.45 &2864.64 &0.19 &3.7 &2.2 &0.6 & O\,{\sc ii}\,833 z=2.433\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &702.33 &2415.31 & & & & &0.5 & C\,{\sc iii}\,977 z=1.4735\\       
O\,{\sc iii} &507.39 &1744.91 & & & & &0.3 &\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2708.93 &2710.07 &1.14 &3.6 &1.7 &0.8 &complex blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &2092.25 &2092.86 &0.61 &2.1 &1.9 &0.6 & Ly$\alpha$ z=0.7217\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &554.07 &1905.46 &1905.73 &0.27 & & &0.6 &blend\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &553.33 &1902.89 & & & & &0.6 & O\,{\sc iv}\,554 z=2.433\\        
O\,{\sc v} &629.73 &2165.64 &2166.11 &0.47 &2.5 &1.6 &0.86 &blend\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &4274.00 &4274.15 &0.15 &1.7 &0.7 &0.3 &\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &4260.31 &4260.37 & 0.06 &1.1 &0.8 &0.5 &\\         
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &5324.24 &5324.20 &-0.04 &1.2 &0.5 &0.45 &Echelle data \\
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &5333.09 &5332.70 &-0.39 &1.2 &0.3 &0.24 &Echelle data \\
Ne\,{\sc v} &568.42 &1954.79 &1954.13 &-0.66 &2.4 &0.5 &0.4 & \\
Ne\,{\sc vi} &558 &1920.99 &1918.36 & &2.4 &1.0 &0.38 &Ne\,{\sc vi}\,558 z=2.433\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}
\begin{table*}[t]
{\bf Table 3o.} Absorption lines for absorber system at z=2.579.
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{ccccrcccl} \hline
 & &  &\multicolumn{4}{c} {Fit of gaussian profile}  & & \stru{3ex} \\ \cline{4-7}
Ion &$\lambda_{{\subs{Vacuum}}}$ &$\lambda\cdot$(1+$z$) &$\lambda_{{\subs{obs}}}$ 
&$\Delta\,\lambda$
&FWHM &W$_{{\subs{obs}}}$ &W$_{{\subs{fit}}}$ &comment\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
H\,{\sc i} &1215.67 &4350.88 &4350.91 &0.03 & & &2.4 &blend\stru{3ex}\\         
H\,{\sc i} &1025.72 &3671.06 &3671.68 &0.62 &2.4 &2.5 &1.5 &blend\\         
H\,{\sc i} &972.54 &3480.71 &3480.16 &-0.55 &1.8 &0.9 &1.0 &\\         
O\,{\sc iii} &832.93 &2981.06 &2981.01 &-0.05 &3.2 &0.9 &0.5 &\\       
O\,{\sc iv} &787.71 &2819.21 &2820.05  &0.84 &2.6 &1.2 &0.25 &\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &608.39 &2177.43 &2178.17 &0.74 &4.5 &3.2 &0.1 & N\,{\sc iv}\,765 z=1.8465\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &554.07 &1983.03 &1982.72 &-0.31 &1.9 &1.2 &0.2 & H\,{\sc i}\,919 z=1.1572\\        
O\,{\sc iv} &553.33 &1980.36 &1980.29 &-0.07 &2.5 &1.4 &0.1 &H\,{\sc i}\,918 z=1.1572\\        
O\,{\sc v} & 629.73 &2253.80 &2253.09 &  &3.0 &1.6 &1.0 & H\,{\sc i}\,949 z=1.3714\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1242.80 &4448.00 &4447.93 &-0.07 &0.6 &0.4 &0.47 &noisy\\         
N\,{\sc v} &1238.82 &4433.74 &4434.56 &0.82 &1.8 &1.8 &0.8 &blend\\         
C\,{\sc iv} &1550.77 &5550.21 &5550.25 &0.04 &0.53 &0.2 &0.2 &Echelle data\\
C\,{\sc iv} &1548.19 &5540.97 &5540.83 &-0.14 &0.76 &0.4 &0.36 &Echelle data\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}
\begin{flushleft}
\caption{Logarithmic column densities in MLS (in cm$^{-2}$). b is given in km\,s$^{-1}$.
\label{mlscolden}}
\begin{tabular}{llllllllllllllll}\hline
$z_{abs}$  &0.7217 &0.8642 &1.1572 &1.3714 &1.4735 &1.725 
&1.8465  &2.1678 &2.189 &2.290 &2.308
&2.315 &2.433 &2.439 &2.579 \stru{3ex}\\
b &30 &36 &42 &30 &30 &30 &30  &25 &30 &30 &30 &30 &38 &25 &40\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
HI  &16.2 &16.35 &16.85 &15.85 &15.6 &17.05 &16.75 
 &16.85 &15.4 &15.7 &15.7 &16.88 &16.6
&15.89 &15.4\stru{3ex} \\
HeI  &o &o &o &o &o &o &$<$15.5 
 &15.5 &$<$14.5 &15.0b &15.3 &15.3 &15.3 &14.9 &14.7b\\[0.2ex]
CII   &14.0 &b &14.2 &o &$<$13.7 &$<$13.9 &$<$13.9 
 &$<$13.7 &$<$13.7 &13.5b &$<$13.6 &14.0 &14.0b
&$<$14.0 &$<$13.5\\
CIII  &16.0b &16.0b &15.8b &14.0b &14.0b &15.0b &14.3 
 &13.9 &13.5 &14.0b &13.5 &16.0 &o
&o &$<$13.3\\
CIV  &14.0b &14.0b &o &14.0b &$<$13.7 &$<$13.7 &13.8b 
 &13.6e &e &e &e &14.0e 
&13.8e &13.6e &13.5e\\[0.2ex]
NII  &$<$14.3 &$<$14.3 &14.5b &$<$14.2 &b &b &b 
 &b &b &$<$13.8 &b &$<$13.9 &$<$13.9 
&$<$13.8 &$<$13.8\\
NIII  &14.5b &14.8 &$<$14.3 &$<$14.4 &14.4 &$<$14.0 &13.7b 
 &13.7b &$<$14.0 &$<$13.9 &$<$14.0 &14.3b
 &13.7b &$<$14.2 &$<$14.2\\
NIV  &o &o &o &14.3b &$<$14.0 &$<$13.6 &14.5b 
 &14.0b &14.3b &13.7b &14.0 &b
&14.0l &$<$13.9 &$<$13.5\\ 
NV  &$<$14.0 &$<$14.3 &14.1b &$<$14.0 &$<$14.0 &o &$<$13.8 
 &$<$13.8 &$<$13.9 &$<$13.8 &14.0 &$<$14.0 
&13.7b &14.0 &14.2\\[0.2ex]
OII  &o &o &$<$14.3 &p &b &b &b 
 &$<$13.9 &$<$13.9 &$<$13.95 &$<$13.9 &b
 &14.7b &14.0b &$<$13.9\\
OIII  &o &o &15.5 &$<$14.3 &$<$14.0 &15.0b &14.7 
 &14.5 &$<$14.0 &14.3b &14.3 &14.5b &14.5b &14.7b
&14.3\\
OIV   &o &o &15.5 &15.0b &14.5b &14.7 &15.0 
 &15.0 &$<$14.2 &14.3b &15.0 &15.0b &14.8b &15.3b
&14.0b\\
OV  &o &o &o &o &o &p &15.3 
 &15.0 &b &14.5 &15.3 &15.0b &15.0b  &15.3b &15.0b\\
OVI  &14.7 &b &14.6 &$<$14.6 &$<$14.3 &14.3b &14.5 
 &14.7b &o &o &o &o &14.3 &$<$14.0
&$<$13.9\\[0.2ex]
NeIII   &o &o &o &o &o &o &o 
 &o &o &o &o  &o &$<$15.0 &$<$14.7 &$<$14.7\\
NeIV  &o &o &o &o &o &o &o 
 &p &b &$<$14.7 &$<$14.7 &b &b &$<$15.0 &$<$14.5 \\
NeV  &o &o &o &o &o &o &o 
 &$<$15.0 &b  &$<$14.9 &14.9 &15.0 &b &15.0b &$<$14.5\\
NeVI  &o &o &o &o &o &o &o
 &b &$<$14.8 &b &$<$14.8 &b &14.6b &14.8b &b \\
NeVII  &o &o &o &o &o &o &o 
 &o &o &o &o &o &o &o  &$<$15.0\\
NeVIII  &o &o &o &$<$14.5 &b &b &14.5 
 &$<$14.6 &b &$<$14.2 &$<$14.3 &$<$14.2
&$<$14.0 &b &$<$14.3 \\[0.2ex]
SiII  &$<$13.2 &$<$13.6 &13.2 &$<$13.6 &13.6b &$<$13.5 &b 
 &13.4 &$<$13.0 &$<$13.0 &$<$13.7 
&13.7b &$<$13.0 &13.3b &e\\
SiIII  &13.5 &14.0b &13.0b &13.0b &$<$12.8 &o &o 
 &13.0: &$<$12.9 &$<$12.77 &12.8 &b &13.5l
&$<$12.7 &$<$12.77\\
SiIV  &13.6 &13.5b &b &o &o &$<$13.2 &$<$13.3 
 &$<$13.3 &$<$13.2 &e &e &13.7e &e &e &e\\[0.2ex]
SIII  &b &$<$14.8 &b &b &$<$14.6 &b &b 
 &$<$14.3 &$<$14.3 &$<$14.7 &$<$14.7 
&$<$14.7 &$<$14.6 &b &b\\
SIV  &$<$14.8 &b &$<$14.6 &$<$13.9 &b &$<$13.6 &$<$13.6 
 &$<$13.8 &b &$<$13.8 &$<$13.8 
&$<$13.8 &$<$13.5 &$<$13.5 &$<$13.5\\
SV  &o &o &14.0b &$<$13.6 &$<$13.6 &$<$13.3 &$<$13.0 
 &b &b &b &b 
&14.0b &$<$13.2 &b &$<$13.2\\
SVI  &o &$<$14.3 &$<$13.8 &b &$<$14.0 &$<$13.6 &$<$13.6 
 &$<$13.5 &$<$13.4 &b &b 
&b &$<$13.5 &b &o\\[0.2ex]
\hline
\end{tabular}
{\em Notes:} p:\,peak, o:\,outside considered range, e:\,Echelle, b:\,blend, l:\,wavelength shift\stru{3ex}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\footnotesize
\caption[]{Observed (first line in italics) and predicted (second line) 
logarithmic column densities in cm$^{-2}$. The ionizing background is described
by a power law with $\alpha=-0.6$ and a flux at the Lyman limit 
log\,$J(\nu_{{\subs {LL}}})=-22$ in \erg\,. Model parameters are given in 
Table~\ref{kielmod}. 
\label{kielobs} }
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{lllrrrrrrrrlr} \hline
$z_{\subs{abs}}$ &H\,{\sc i} &b &H\,{\sc ii}  &O\,{\sc iii} &O\,{\sc iv} &O\,{\sc v} &O\,{\sc vi}
  &N\,{\sc iii} &N\,{\sc iv} &N\,{\sc v} 
&C\,{\sc iii} &C\,{\sc iv}\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
\it 0.7217 &\it 16.2: &\it 30: & & & & &\it 14.7 &\it 14.5b & 
&\it $<$14.0 &\it 16.0b 
&\it 14.0b\stru{3ex} \\
 & & &19.0 &14.9 &15.2 &15.1 &14.7 &14.1 &14.3 &14.0 &14.0 &14.0\\[0.3ex]
\it 0.8642 &\it 16.35 &\it 36 & & & & &b  &\it 14.8 & &\it $<$14.3 
 &\it 16.0b  &\it 14.0b\\
 & & &19.2 & & & & &14.3 &14.6 &14.3  &14.1 &14.0 \\[0.3ex]
\it 1.1572 &\it 16.85 &\it 42 & &\it 15.5 &\it 15.5 & &\it 14.6  &\it $<$14.3 
& &\it 14.1b &\it 15.8$^{1}$ & \\
 & & &19.6 &15.2  &15.3 &15.0 &14.6 &14.3 &14.4 &14.0  &15.5 &15.4\\[0.3ex]
\it 1.3714 &\it 15.85: &\it 30: & &$<$\it 14.3 &\it 15.0b & &\it $<$14.6 
&\it $<$14.4 &\it 14.3b &\it $<$14.0 &\it 14.0b &\it 14.0b \\
 & & &18.9 &14.0 &14.7 &14.7 &14.6 &13.8 &14.3 &14.1  &14.0 &14.1\\[0.3ex]
\it 1.4735 &\it 15.6: &\it 30: & &\it $<$14.0 &\it 14.5b & &\it $<$14.3  
&\it 14.4 &\it $<$14.0 &\it $<$14.0 
&\it 14.0b &\it $<$13.7 \\
 & & &18.8 &13.6 &14.3 &14.5 &14.3 &13.4 &14.0 &13.9  &13.6 &13.7\\[0.3ex]
\it 1.725 &\it 17.05 &\it 30 & &\it 15.0b &\it 14.7 & &\it 14.3b  
&\it $<$14.0 &\it $<$13.6 & &\it 15.0b &\it $<$13.7 \\
 & & &20.1 &14.4 &14.7 &14.5 &14.0 &13.4 &13.6 &13.2  &13.9 &13.7\\[0.3ex]
\it 1.8465 &\it 16.75 &\it 30 &  &\it 14.7 &\it 15.0 &\it 15.3 &\it 14.5  
&\it 13.7b &\it 14.5b &$<$\it 13.8 
 &\it 14.3  & \\
 & & &19.7 &14.7 &15.1 &14.9 &14.5 &13.7 &14.0 &13.6  &14.3 &14.2\\[0.3ex]
\it 2.1678 &\it 16.85 &\it 25 &  &\it 14.5 &\it 15.0 &\it 15.0 &\it 14.7b  
&\it 13.7b &\it 14.0b &$<$\it 13.8 
&\it 13.9 &\it 13.6$^{\star}$  \\
 & & &19.9 &14.6 &15.0 &15.0 &14.6 &13.6 &14.0 &13.7  &13.9 &13.8 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.189 &\it 15.4: &\it 30: & & $<$\it 14.0 &$<$\it 14.2 & & &$<$\it 14.0
&\it 14.3b &$<$\it 13.9 &\it 13.5b & \\
 & & &18.7 &13.3 &14.2 &14.5 &14.4 &13.1 &13.9 &13.9 &13.5 &13.8 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.290 &\it 15.7: &\it 30: & &14.3b &\it 14.3b &\it 14.5 &  &\it $<$13.9 
&\it 13.7b &\it $<$13.8  &\it 14.0b & \\
 & & &18.9 &13.6 &14.3 &14.5 &14.3 &13.2 &13.8 &13.7  &14.0 &14.2 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.308 &\it 15.7: &\it 30: & &\it 14.3 &\it 15.0 &\it 15.3 &  &\it $<$14.0 
&\it 14.0 &\it 14.0  &\it 13.5 & \\
 & & &18.9 &14.3 &15.1 &15.3 &15.1 &13.4 &14.1 &14.0  &13.5 &13.7 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.315 &\it 16.88 &\it 30  & &\it 14.5b &\it 15.0b &\it 15.0b &  &\it 14.3b 
&b &$<$\it 14.0  &\it 16.0 &\it 14.0$^{\star}$ \\
 & & &19.9 &14.5 &14.8 &14.7 &14.3 &14.1 &14.4 &14.0  &14.2 &14.0 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.433 &\it 16.60 &\it 38 & &\it 14.5b &\it 14.8b &\it 15.0b &\it 14.3  
&\it 13.7b &\it 14.0 &13.7b 
 & &\it 13.8$^{\star}$ \\
 & & &19.6 &14.5 &14.9 &14.8 &14.4 &13.7 &14.0 &13.7  &13.9 &13.8 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.439 &\it 15.9: &\it 25: & &\it 14.7b &\it 15.3b &\it 15.3b &\it $<$14.0  
&$<$\it 14.2 &$<$\it 13.9 &\it 14.0  & &\it 13.6$^{\star}$ \\
 & & &19.1 &13.3 &14.1 &14.2 &14.0 &13.3 &13.9 &13.8  &13.5 &13.6 \\[0.3ex]
\it 2.579 &\it 15.4: &\it 40: & &\it 14.3 &\it 14.0b &\it 15.0b &\it $<$13.9  
&$<$\it 14.2 &$<$\it 13.5 &\it 14.2  &$<$\it 13.3 &\it 13.5$^{\star}$ \\
 & & &18.8 &13.2 &14.0 &14.1 &13.9 &13.0 &13.6 &13.5  &13.3 &13.5 \\
 \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
{\em  Notes:} b is given in km\,s$^{-1}$. Upper limits for column densities
correspond to $3\,\sigma$ upper limits. For missing ion column densities
the lines lie outside the observed spectral range or they are difficult to 
measure due to large unknown blends.\\
(1) Observed log\,C\,{\sc ii}\,=\,14.2 is reproduced by [C/H]=$-$0.52 as
given in Table~\ref{kielmod}.\\
($\star$) Due to the poor signal-to-noise of the Echelle data these values are
 highly uncertain. }
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\footnotesize
\caption{Model parameters. The ionizing background is assumed to be a power 
law  ($\alpha$\,=\,$-0.6$) with a flux at the hydrogen Lyman 
limit of log$\,J_{\nu}=-22$ in erg\,s$^{-1}$Hz$^{-1}$cm$^{-2}$sr$^{-1}$.
 [X/Y]=log(X/Y)$_{obs}-\,$log(X/Y)$_{\odot}$
\label{kielmod}}
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{lcccccccccc} \hline
$z_{\subs{abs}}$  &log$\,n_{\subs{H}}$ 
&log$\,U$ &log$\,T$
&$\,D_{\subs{c}}$ &log$\,M_{\subs{c}}$  &[C/H] &[N/H] &[O/H] &[O/C] &[N/C]\stru{3ex} \\ 
   &[cm$^{-3}$] &  &[K] &[kpc] &[M$_{\odot}$]& & & &\stru{2ex} \\ \hline
0.7217  &$-$2.7 &$-$2.27 &4.32 &1.9 &5.3 &$-$1.32 &$<-$0.29 &$-$0.32: &1.0 &1.03 \stru{3ex}\\
0.8642  &$-$2.7 &$-$2.28 &4.34 &2.8 &5.8 &$-$1.42: &$<-$0.20 &  &
 &$<$1.22 \\
1.1572  &$-$2.6 &$-$2.38 &4.30 &5.3 &6.6 &$-$0.44 &$<-$0.79 &$-$0.82 &$-$0.38 
&$<-$0.35\\
1.3714  &$-$2.9 &$-$2.10 &4.36 &2.2 &5.2 &$-$1.02 &$-$0.09 &$<-$0.62 &$<$0.4 
&0.93\\
1.4735  &$-$3.0 &$-$1.98 &4.38 &2.1 &5.1 &$<-$1.22 &$<-$0.20 &$<-$0.72 & & \\
1.725   &$-$2.7 &$-$2.28 &4.38 &21.1 &8.4 &$<-$2.52 &$<-$1.99 &$-$1.87 &$>$0.65
 &\\
1.8465  &$-$2.7 &$-$2.28 &4.36 &8.3 &7.2 &$-$1.72 &$-$1.29 &$-$1.12 &0.60 &0.43 \\
2.1678  &$-$2.8 &$-$2.17 &4.39 &19.5 &8.2 &$-$2.31 &$-$1.49 &$-$1.37 &0.94 &0.82 \\
2.189 &$-$3.1 &$-$1.88 &4.39 &2.0 &4.9 &$-$1.07 &$<-$0.09 &$<-$0.62 &$<$0.45 &$<$0.98\\
2.290   &$-$3.0 &$-$1.98 &4.38 &2.6 &5.4 &$-$0.92: &$<-$0.49 &$-$0.82: &0.10: 
&$<$0.43\\
2.308   &$-$3.0 &$-$1.98 &4.36 &2.5 &5.3 &$-$1.42 &$-$0.19 &$-$0.02 &1.40 &1.23\\
2.315   &$-$2.7 &$-$2.28 &4.36 &11.8 &7.7 &$-$2.02: &$<-$1.04 &$-$1.52 &0.50: 
&$<$0.98\\  
2.433   &$-$2.7 &$-$2.26 &4.36 &6.3 &6.8 &$-$1.97 &$-$1.11 &$-$1.17 &0.80 &0.86 \\
2.439   &$-$3.0 &$-$1.98 &4.41 &4.5 &6.1 &$-$1.72: &$<-$0.64 &$<-$1.32 &$<$0.40
 &$<$1.08\\
2.579   &$-$3.0 &$-$1.98 &4.39 &2.2 &5.1 &$-$1.52: &$<-$0.59: &$-$1.12: &0.40: 
&$<$0.93\\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
{\em Notes: }Solar abundances taken from Gehren (1988). Masses were
derived assuming the clouds to be spherically symmetric. A colon indicates less
accurate values. }
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
{\footnotesize
\caption{Observed (in italics) and computed column densities for Si, S and Ne 
in cm$^{-2}$. 
The ionizing radiation field is described by a  power law
with $\alpha=-0.6$ or $-1$ and log\,$J(\nu_{LL})=-22$ in erg\,s$^{-1}$Hz$^{-1}$cm$^{-2}$sr$^{-1}$.
\label{siobs}}
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{cccccccccccccc}\hline
$z_{abs}$ &Si\,{\sc ii} &Si\,{\sc iii} &Si\,{\sc iv} &S\,{\sc iii} &S\,{\sc iv}
 &S\,{\sc v} &S\,{\sc vi} &Ne\,{\sc v} &Ne\,{\sc vi} 
&Ne\,{\sc viii} &[Si/H] &[S/H] &[Ne/H]\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
\it 1.1572 &\it 13.2 &\it 13.0b &\it b &\it b &\it $<$14.6 
&\it 14.0b &\it $<$13.8 & &  & & & &\stru{3ex} \\
$-$0.6 &11.8 &13.0 &13.0 &13.3 &13.3 &13.3 &13.8 &  & & &$-$0.5 &$<-$0.3 & \\[1ex]
\it 1.725 &\it $<$13.5 & &\it $<$13.2 & &\it $<$13.6 &\it $<$13.3 &\it $<$13.6 
& &  & & & & \\ 
$-$0.6 &12.1 &13.2 &13.2 &13.2 &13.3 &13.3 &13.6 & & &  &$<-$0.3 &$<-$0.7 & \\[1ex]
\it 1.8465 & & &\it $<$13.3 & &\it $<$13.6 &\it $<$13.0 &\it $<$13.6 & &  
& & & & \\
$-$0.6 &12.2 &13.3 &13.3 &12.9 &13.0 &13.0 &13.3 & &  & &$<$0.1 &$<-$0.6 & \\[1ex]
\it 2.1678 &\it 13.4 &\it 13.0b &\it $<$13.3 &\it $<$14.3 &\it $<$13.8 
&\it b 
&\it $<$13.5 & &
 & & & & \\
$-$0.6 &11.8 &13.0 &13.1 &13.1 &13.2 &13.2 &13.5 & &  & &0.1
&$<-$0.4 & \\
$-$1.0 &11.9 &13.0 &13.0 &13.5 &13.6 &13.5 &13.5 & & & &$-$0.9
&$<-$1.0 & \\[1ex]
\it 2.315 &\it 13.7b &\it b &\it 13.7e &\it $<$14.7 &\it $<$13.8 &\it
 14.0b 
&\it b &\it 15.0 &\it b
 &\it $<$14.2 & & & \\
$-$0.6 &12.5 &13.7 &13.7 &13.7 &13.8 &13.8 &14.1 &15.0 &14.7 &12.9 &0.3
&$<$0 &$-$0.6 \\
$-$1.0 &12.5 &13.7 &13.7 &13.7 &13.8 &13.7 &13.7 &15.0 &14.9 &12.6 &$-$0.4
&$<-$0.9 &$-$0.9 \\[1ex]
\it 2.433 &\it $<$13.0 &\it 13.5l &\it e &$<$\it 14.6 &\it $<$13.5 &\it $<$13.2 
&\it $<$13.5 & &\it 14.6b  &\it $<$14.0
 & & & \\
$-$0.6 &12.3 &13.5 &13.5 &13.1 &13.2 &13.2 &13.5 &14.9 &14.6  &12.8 &0.5
&$<-$0.3 &$-$0.4: \\
$-$1.0 &12.3 &13.5 &13.5 &13.3 &13.3 &13.2 &13.2 &14.8 &14.6 &12.3 &$-$0.2
&$<-$0.9 &$-$0.9:\\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
{\em Notes:} Solar Ne abundance from Grevesse: log\,(Ne/H)$=-3.9$,
 Gehren: $-$4.2. e : Echelle data, b : blend, l : $\lambda$-shift. }
\end{table*}

\begin{table*}[t]
\caption{Interstellar absorption lines identified in HS\,1700 data in comparison
to lines observed by Savage et al.\ (1993) towards two quasars with 
similar galactic coordinates. Equivalent widths of interstellar lines in 
HS~1700 spectra result from the calculation of Voigt profiles with b and N
as given.
\label{inter} }
\begin{flushleft}
\begin{tabular}{lcccllllll} \hline
 & & & & & & &  &W [\AA] & \stru{3ex}\\ \cline{8-10}
Id  &$\lambda$ &$\lambda_{obs}$ &$\Delta\,\lambda$ &3\,$\sigma$\,W$_{min}$ &log\,N &b [km/s] &HS~1700 &H~1821+643 
&3C~351\stru{3ex} \\ \hline
Al\,{\sc ii} &1670.79 &1670.49 &$-$0.3 &0.5 &14.1 &50 &1.18 &0.83 &0.63 \stru{3ex}\\
Al\,{\sc iii} &1854.72 &1854.08 &$-$0.64 &0.4 &13.9 &50 &0.7 &0.30 & \\
Al\,{\sc iii} &1862.79 & & &0.4 & & &0.4 & &  \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2600.17 &2600.26 &0.09 &0.25 &14.1 &50 &0.9 &1.5 &0.97 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2586.65 & & &0.25 & & &0.45 &1.06 &0.63\\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2382.77 &2383.47 &0.7 &0.45 & & &0.95 &1.37 &1.23 \\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2374.46 &2374.91 &0.45 &0.45 & & &0.2 &1.03 &0.74\\
Fe\,{\sc ii} &2344.21 &2344.88 &0.67 &0.45 & & &0.68 &1.04 &0.83 \\
Mg\,{\sc ii} &2796.35 &2795.98 &$-$0.37 &0.25 &14.3 &50  &1.6 &1.73 &1.73 \\
Mg\,{\sc ii} &2803.53 &2803.27 &$-$0.26 &0.25 & & &1.3 &1.71 &1.42 \\
Mg\,{\sc i} &2852.96 &2853.14 &0.18 &0.3 &12.8 &50 &0.55 &0.59 &0.59  \\
Zn\,{\sc ii} &2026.13 &2025.59 &$-$0.54 &0.3 &13.3 &50 &0.32 &0.17 &  \\
Zn\,{\sc ii} &2062.66 & & &0.25 & & &0.18 &0.17 & \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2606.46 & & &0.25 &$<$13.1 &50 &0.2 &0.2 & \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2594.49 & & &0.25 & & &0.28 &0.3 &  \\
Mn\,{\sc ii} &2576.88 & & &0.3 & & &0.34 &0.39 & \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{flushleft}
\end{table*}
\end{document}
