A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
Large Lyman-alpha opacity fluctuations and low CMB tau in models of late reionization with large islands of neutral hydrogen extending to z<5.5
4 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
4
Pith papers citing it
abstract
High-redshift QSO spectra show large spatial fluctuations in the Ly-alpha opacity of the intergalactic medium on surprisingly large scales at z>~5.5. We present a radiative transfer simulation of cosmic reionization driven by galaxies that reproduces this large scatter and the rapid evolution of the Ly-alpha opacity distribution at 5<z<6. The simulation also reproduces the low Thomson scattering optical depth reported by the latest CMB measurement and is consistent with the observed short near-zones and strong red damping wings in the highest-redshift QSOs. It also matches the rapid disappearance of observed Ly-alpha emission by galaxies at z>~6. Reionization is complete at z=5.3 in our model, and 50% of the volume of the Universe is ionized at z=7. Agreement with the Ly-alpha forest data in such a late reionization model requires a rapid evolution of the ionizing emissivity of galaxies that peaks at z~6.8. The late end of reionization results in a large scatter in the photoionisation rate and the neutral hydrogen fraction at redshifts as low as z<~5.5 with large residual neutral 'islands' that can produce very long Gunn-Peterson troughs resembling those seen in the data.
citation-role summary
background 3
citation-polarity summary
roles
background 3representative citing papers
kNN CDF statistics detect 21cm-galaxy cross-correlations more effectively than two-point methods and distinguish reionization models at fixed ionized fraction even with noise and foregrounds.
DESI DR2 BAO and full-shape data plus CMB yield ∑m_ν < 0.0642 eV (95% CL) under ΛCDM, in 3σ tension with oscillation lower limits, relaxed to <0.163 eV in w0waCDM.
Simulations show recombination-weighted clumping is systematically lower than density-based measures, density-only prescriptions overpredict rates by 1.29-1.84 depending on redshift, and a new phase-space clumping factor isolates thermal and ionization effects at fixed density.
citing papers explorer
-
A self-consistent analytical model for both the photoionization rate and reionization history
A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
-
The Lumina Project: Intergalactic Clumping and Recombination Sinks
Simulations show recombination-weighted clumping is systematically lower than density-based measures, density-only prescriptions overpredict rates by 1.29-1.84 depending on redshift, and a new phase-space clumping factor isolates thermal and ionization effects at fixed density.