CHORUS IV: Mapping the Spatially Inhomogeneous Cosmic Reionization with Subaru HSC

Abstract

The spatial inhomogeneity is one of the important features for understanding the reionization process; however, it has not yet been fully quantified. To map this inhomogeneous distribution, we simultaneously detect Ly$\alpha$ emitters (LAEs) and Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at $z\sim 6.6$ from the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) large-area ($\sim 1.5{\mathrm{deg}}^2=34000{\mathrm{cMpc}}^2$) deep survey. We estimate the neutral fraction, $x_{\mathrm{HI}}$, from the observed number density ratio of LAEs to LBGs, $n(\mathrm{LAE})/n(\mathrm{LBG})$ based on numerical radiative transfer simulation, in which model galaxies are selected to satisfy the observed selection function. While the average $x_{\mathrm{HI}}$ within the field of view is found to be $x_{\mathrm{HI}}<0.4$, which is consistent with previous studies, the variation of $n(\mathrm{LAE})/n(\mathrm{LBG})$ within the field of view for each $140{\mathrm{pMpc}}^2$ is found to be as large as a factor of three. This may suggest a spatially inhomogeneous topology of reionization, but it also leaves open the possibility that the variation is based on the inherent large-scale structure of the galaxy distribution. Based on the simulations, it may be difficult to distinguish between the two from the current survey. We also find that LAEs in the high LAE density region are more populate high ${\mathrm{EW}}_0$, supporting that the observed $n(\mathrm{LAE})/n(\mathrm{LBG})$ is more or less driven by the neutral fraction, though the statistical significance is not high.

20 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Clustering dependence on Lyman-$\alpha$ luminosity from MUSE surveys at $3<z<6$
• Evolution of the Lyman-α emitting fraction and UV properties of lensed star-forming galaxies between 2.9 < z < 6.7
• Eddington accreting Black Holes in the Epoch of Reionization
• Identifying Lyα emitter candidates with Random Forest: learning from galaxies in CANDELS survey