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Title:
Observational Constraints on Cosmic Reionization
Authors:
Fan, Xiaohui; Carilli, C. L.; Keating, B.
Publication:
Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 44, Issue 1, pp.415-462 (Annual Reviews Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2006
Origin:
ARAA
DOI:
10.1146/annurev.astro.44.051905.092514
Bibliographic Code:
2006ARA&A..44..415F

Abstract

Observations have set the first constraints on the epoch of reionization (EoR), corresponding to the formation epoch of the first luminous objects. Studies of Gunn-Peterson (GP) absorption indicate a rapid increase in the neutral fraction of the intergalactic medium (IGM) from xHI < 10 4 at z ≤ 5.5, to xHI > 10 3, perhaps up to 0.1, at z 6, while the large scale polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) implies a significant ionization fraction extending to higher redshifts, z 11 ± 3. These results, as well as observations of galaxy populations, suggest that reionization is a process that begins as early as z 14, and ends with the "percolation" phase at z 6 to 8. Low luminosity star-forming galaxies are likely the dominant sources of reionizing photons. Future low-frequency radio telescopes will make direct measurements of HI 21-cm emission from the neutral IGM during the EoR, and measurements of secondary CMB temperature anisotropy will provide details of the dynamics of the reionized IGM.
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