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Probing ultralate reionization: direct measurements of the mean free path over 5 < z < 6

The mean free path of ionizing photons, λ mfp, is a critical parameter for modeling the intergalactic medium (IGM) both during and after reionization. We present direct measurements of λ mfp from QSO spectra over the redshift range 5 < z < 6, including the first measurements at z ≃ 5.3 and 5.6...

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Hauptverfasser: Zhu, Yongda (VerfasserIn) , Becker, George D. (VerfasserIn) , Christenson, Holly M. (VerfasserIn) , D’Aloisio, Anson (VerfasserIn) , Bosman, Sarah (VerfasserIn) , Bakx, Tom (VerfasserIn) , D’Odorico, Valentina (VerfasserIn) , Bischetti, Manuela (VerfasserIn) , Cain, Christopher (VerfasserIn) , Davies, Frederick B. (VerfasserIn) , Davies, Rebecca L. (VerfasserIn) , Eilers, Anna-Christina (VerfasserIn) , Fan, Xiaohui (VerfasserIn) , Gaikwad, Prakash (VerfasserIn) , Haehnelt, Martin G. (VerfasserIn) , Keating, Laura C. (VerfasserIn) , Kulkarni, Girish (VerfasserIn) , Lai, Samuel (VerfasserIn) , Ma, Hai-Xia (VerfasserIn) , Mesinger, Andrei (VerfasserIn) , Qin, Yuxiang (VerfasserIn) , Satyavolu, Sindhu (VerfasserIn) , Takeuchi, Tsutomu T. (VerfasserIn) , Umehata, Hideki (VerfasserIn) , Yang, Jinyi (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2023 October 1
In: The astrophysical journal
Year: 2023, Jahrgang: 955, Heft: 2, Pages: 1-13
ISSN:1538-4357
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/aceef4
Online-Zugang:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aceef4
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://dx.doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aceef4
Volltext
Verfasserangaben:Yongda Zhu, George D. Becker, Holly M. Christenson, Anson D’Aloisio, Sarah E. I. Bosman, Tom Bakx, Valentina D’Odorico, Manuela Bischetti, Christopher Cain, Frederick B. Davies, Rebecca L. Davies, Anna-Christina Eilers, Xiaohui Fan, Prakash Gaikwad, Martin G. Haehnelt, Laura C. Keating, Girish Kulkarni, Samuel Lai, Hai-Xia Ma, Andrei Mesinger, Yuxiang Qin, Sindhu Satyavolu, Tsutomu T. Takeuchi, Hideki Umehata and Jinyi Yang
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The mean free path of ionizing photons, λ mfp, is a critical parameter for modeling the intergalactic medium (IGM) both during and after reionization. We present direct measurements of λ mfp from QSO spectra over the redshift range 5 < z < 6, including the first measurements at z ≃ 5.3 and 5.6. Our sample includes data from the XQR-30 VLT large program, as well as new Keck/ESI observations of QSOs near z ∼ 5.5, for which we also acquire new [C ii] 158 μm redshifts with ALMA. By measuring the Lyman continuum transmission profile in stacked QSO spectra, we find , , , and pMpc at z = 5.08, 5.31, 5.65, and 5.93, respectively. Our results demonstrate that λ mfp increases steadily and rapidly with time over 5 < z < 6. Notably, we find that λ mfp deviates significantly from predictions based on a fully ionized and relaxed IGM as late as z = 5.3. By comparing our results to model predictions and indirect λ mfp constraints based on IGM Lyα opacity, we find that the evolution of λ mfp is consistent with scenarios wherein the IGM is still undergoing reionization and/or retains large fluctuations in the ionizing UV background well below redshift 6.
Beschreibung:Im Titel steht für kleiner das mathematische Zeichen
Gesehen am 08.04.2024
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1538-4357
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/aceef4

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