Direct evidence for an early reionization of the Universe?

Abstract

We examine the possible reionization of the intergalactic medium (IGM) by the source UDF033238.7-274839.8 (hereafter HUDF-JD2), which was discovered in deep {\it HST}/VLT/{\it Spitzer} images obtained as part of the Great Observatory Origins Deep Survey and {\it Hubble} Ultra-Deep Field projects. Mobasher et al (2005) have identified HUDF-JD2 as a massive ($\sim 6\times 10^{11}{M}_{\odot }$) post-starburst galaxy at redshift z$\gtrsim 6.5$. We find that HUDF-JD2 may be capable of reionizing its surrounding region of the Universe, starting the process at a redshift as high as z$\approx 15\pm 5$.

arXiv comment6 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

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