Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines
Determining when and how the first galaxies reionised the intergalactic medium promises to shed light on both the nature of the first objects and the cosmic history of baryons. Towards this goal, quasar absorption lines play a unique role by probing the properties of diffuse gas on galactic and inte...
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Cambridge University Press
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42515/ |
| _version_ | 1848796504389582848 |
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| author | Becker, George D. Bolton, James S. Lidz, Adam |
| author_facet | Becker, George D. Bolton, James S. Lidz, Adam |
| author_sort | Becker, George D. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Determining when and how the first galaxies reionised the intergalactic medium promises to shed light on both the nature of the first objects and the cosmic history of baryons. Towards this goal, quasar absorption lines play a unique role by probing the properties of diffuse gas on galactic and intergalactic scales. In this review, we examine the multiple ways in which absorption lines trace the connection between galaxies and the intergalactic medium near the reionisation epoch. We first describe how the Ly α forest is used to determine the intensity of the ionising ultraviolet background and the global ionising emissivity budget. Critically, these measurements reflect the escaping ionising radiation from all galaxies, including those too faint to detect directly. We then discuss insights from metal absorption lines into reionisation-era galaxies and their surroundings. Current observations suggest a buildup of metals in the circumgalactic environments of galaxies over z ~ 6 to 5, although changes in ionisation will also affect the evolution of metal line properties. A substantial fraction of metal absorbers at these redshifts may trace relatively low-mass galaxies. Finally, we review constraints from the Ly α forest and quasar near zones on the timing of reionisation. Along with other probes of the high-redshift Universe, absorption line data are consistent with a relatively late end to reionisation (5.5 ≲ z ≲ 7); however, the constraints are still fairly week. Significant progress is expected to come through improved analysis techniques, increases in the number of known high-redshift quasars from optical and infrared sky surveys, large gains in sensitivity from next-generation observing facilities, and synergies with other probes of the reionisation era. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:49:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-42515 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:49:02Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| spelling | nottingham-425152020-05-04T17:27:44Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42515/ Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines Becker, George D. Bolton, James S. Lidz, Adam Determining when and how the first galaxies reionised the intergalactic medium promises to shed light on both the nature of the first objects and the cosmic history of baryons. Towards this goal, quasar absorption lines play a unique role by probing the properties of diffuse gas on galactic and intergalactic scales. In this review, we examine the multiple ways in which absorption lines trace the connection between galaxies and the intergalactic medium near the reionisation epoch. We first describe how the Ly α forest is used to determine the intensity of the ionising ultraviolet background and the global ionising emissivity budget. Critically, these measurements reflect the escaping ionising radiation from all galaxies, including those too faint to detect directly. We then discuss insights from metal absorption lines into reionisation-era galaxies and their surroundings. Current observations suggest a buildup of metals in the circumgalactic environments of galaxies over z ~ 6 to 5, although changes in ionisation will also affect the evolution of metal line properties. A substantial fraction of metal absorbers at these redshifts may trace relatively low-mass galaxies. Finally, we review constraints from the Ly α forest and quasar near zones on the timing of reionisation. Along with other probes of the high-redshift Universe, absorption line data are consistent with a relatively late end to reionisation (5.5 ≲ z ≲ 7); however, the constraints are still fairly week. Significant progress is expected to come through improved analysis techniques, increases in the number of known high-redshift quasars from optical and infrared sky surveys, large gains in sensitivity from next-generation observing facilities, and synergies with other probes of the reionisation era. Cambridge University Press 2015-12-07 Article PeerReviewed Becker, George D., Bolton, James S. and Lidz, Adam (2015) Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 32 . e045/1-e045/29. ISSN 1448-6083 dark ages reionization first stars; Galaxies: evolution; Galaxies: high-redshift; intergalactic medium; quasars: absorption lines https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/publications-of-the-astronomical-society-of-australia/article/reionisation-and-highredshift-galaxies-the-view-from-quasar-absorption-lines/143C0440FA8914F57F23037751186C98# doi:10.1017/pasa.2015.45 doi:10.1017/pasa.2015.45 |
| spellingShingle | dark ages reionization first stars; Galaxies: evolution; Galaxies: high-redshift; intergalactic medium; quasars: absorption lines Becker, George D. Bolton, James S. Lidz, Adam Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title | Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title_full | Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title_fullStr | Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title_short | Reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| title_sort | reionization and high-redshift galaxies: the view from quasar absorption lines |
| topic | dark ages reionization first stars; Galaxies: evolution; Galaxies: high-redshift; intergalactic medium; quasars: absorption lines |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42515/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42515/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42515/ |