Observational constraints on the metagalactic Ly$\alpha$ photon scattering rate at high redshift

Abstract

The scattering of Ly$\alpha$ photons from the first radiating sources in the Universe plays a pivotal role in 21-cm radio detections of Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization through the Wouthuysen-Field effect. New data from JWST show the Ly$\alpha$ photon scattering rate exceeds that required to decouple the intergalactic hydrogen spin temperature from that of the Cosmic Microwave Background up to $z\sim 14$ and render the neutral hydrogen visible over the main redshift range expected for the Epoch of Reionization.

arXiv commentPublished in the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society; 3 pages, 1 figure

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Cited by in corpus (1)

• The 21-cm signature of X-ray heated halos around galaxies during cosmic dawn