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We present the results of deep Lyman limit imaging in four new fields as part of a continuing search for galaxies at 3. 0 3 within 3 arcsec of the QSO sight lines; the two candidate absorbers have similar luminosities, MB_ ~ 22 (q₀_ = 0. 5, H₀_ = 50 km s^-1^ Mpc^-1^), and impact parameters, R ~ 10h^-1^ kpc. We find the average surface density of robust Lyman break objects to be ~0. 5 galaxies per square arcminute to a magnitude limit R = 25. 0. A simple, "no evolution" model based on the properties of normal galaxies at z 3 objects is biased by the presence of a luminous QSO in the redshift range of interest; the surveyed fields are too small to examine the possibility of a spatial association of the z > 3 candidates with the QSOs. We suggest a number of future observations that would resolve this question and clarify the nature of the putative "normal" galaxy population beyond z ~ 3.
Steidel et al. (Fri,) studied this question.