2017/10/01 by Andrei Mesinger
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #COSMIC cancer database #Cosmic microwave background #Cosmology #Dark Ages #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Physics #Planck #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Redshift #Reionization #astro-ph.CO #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s1743921317011139
Invited review for the IAU Symposium 333 "Peering towards Cosmic Dawn", Dubrovnik, October 2-6, 2017; to appear in the proceedings, eds. Vibor Jelic and Thijs van der Hulst [8 pages, 3 figures]
openalex publication_date 2017/10/01 · arxiv created 2018/01/08 · arxiv updated 2018/08/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract We highlight recent progress in the sophistication and diversification of the simulations of cosmic dawn and reionization. The application of these modeling tools to recent observations has allowed us narrow down the timing of reionization. The midpoint of reionization is constrained to z = 7.6 −0.7 +0.8 (1 σ), with the strongest constraints coming from the optical depth to the CMB measured with the Planck satellite and the first detection of ongoing reionization from the spectra of the z = 7.1 QSOs ULASJ1120+0641. However, we still know virtually nothing about the astrophysical sources during the first billion years. The revolution in our understanding will be led by upcoming interferometric observations of the cosmic 21-cm signal. The properties of the sources and sinks of UV and X-ray photons are encoded in the 3D patterns of the signal. The development of Bayesian parameter recovery techniques, which tap into the wealth of the 21-cm signal, will soon usher in an era of precision astrophysical cosmology.