Observational constraints on the metagalactic Ly$α$ photon scattering rate at high redshift [CEA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.07085


The scattering of Ly$\alpha$ photons from the first radiating sources in the Universe plays a pivotal role in 21-cm radio detections of Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization through the Wouthuysen-Field effect. New data from JWST show the Ly$\alpha$ photon scattering rate exceeds that required to decouple the intergalactic hydrogen spin temperature from that of the Cosmic Microwave Background up to $z\sim14$ and render the neutral hydrogen visible over the main redshift range expected for the Epoch of Reionization.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Meiksin
Mon, 17 Apr 23
37/51

Comments: Published in the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society; 3 pages, 1 figure