2005A&A...429L..25W

Using the IRAM 30 m telescope we detected the lower fine structure line of neutral carbon (CI (³P₁-³P₀), ν_rest=492GHz) towards three high-redshift sources: IRAS FSC10214 (z=2.3), SMM J14011+0252 (z=2.5) and H1413+117 (Cloverleaf quasar, z=2.5). SMM J14011+0252 is the first high-redshift, non-AGN source in which CI has been detected. The CI (³P₁-³P₀) line from FSC10214 is almost an order of magnitude weaker than previously claimed, while our detection in the Cloverleaf is in good agreement with earlier observations. The CI (³P₁-³P₀) linewidths are similar to the CO widths, indicating that both lines trace similar regions of molecular gas on galactic scales. Derived CI (³P₁-³P₀) masses for all three objects are of order fewx10⁷M_☉ and the implied CI (³P₁-³P₀)/¹²CO(J=3-2) line luminosity ratio is about 0.2. This number is similar to values found in local galaxies. We derive a C I abundance of 5x10^–5 which implies significant metal enrichment of the cold molecular gas at redshifts 2.5 (age of the universe 2.7Gyr). We conclude that the physical properties of systems at large lookback times are similar to today's starburst/AGN environments.