Absorber incidence and comoving number density ($dN/dz=n_c{\sigma }_{p}c(1+z{)}^2/H(z)$)

For a population with comoving number density $n_c$ and proper interception area ${\sigma }_p$, the absorption incidence is the proper density multiplied by cross-section and proper light-path length $cdz/[H(z)(1+z)]$. The displayed relation assumes one counted absorption system per interception. Completeness, covering fraction, evolution and the distinction between observed and rest-frame wavelength separation must be stated in an inference from a spectrum.