[C II] 158μm Emission from z ∼ 4 H I Absorption-selected Galaxies

We report on a search for the [C II] 158 mu m emission line from galaxies associated with four high-metallicity damped Ly alpha absorbers (DLAs) at z similar to 4 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We detect [C II]. 158 mu m emission from galaxies at the DLA redshift in three fields, with one field showing two [C II] 158 mu m emitters. Combined with previous results, we now have detected [C II]. 158 mu m emission from five of six galaxies associated with targeted high-metallicity DLAs at z similar to 4. The galaxies have relatively large impact parameters, approximate to 16-45 kpc, [C II] 158 mu m line luminosities of (0.36-30) x 10(8) L-circle dot,ALMA's and rest-frame far-infrared properties similar to those of luminous Lyman-break galaxies, with star formation rates of approximate to 7-110M(circle dot) yr(-1). Comparing the absorption and emission line profiles yields a remarkable agreement between the line centroids, indicating that the DLA traces gas at velocities similar to that of the [C II]. 158 mu m emission. This disfavors a scenario where the DLA arises from gas in a companion galaxy. These observations highlight ALMA's unique ability to uncover a high-redshift galaxy population that has largely eluded detection for decades.