The Cosmic Microwave Background and the Ionization History of the Universe
arXiv:astro-ph/0606552 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10983.x
Abstract
Details of how the primordial plasma recombined and how the universe later reionized are currently somewhat uncertain. This uncertainty can restrict the accuracy of cosmological parameter measurements from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). More positively, future CMB data can be used to constrain the ionization history using observations. We first discuss how current uncertainties in the recombination history impact parameter constraints, and show how suitable parameterizations can be used to obtain unbiased parameter estimates from future data. Some parameters can be constrained robustly, however there is clear motivation to model recombination more accurately with quantified errors. We then discuss constraints on the ionization fraction binned in redshift during reionization. Perfect CMB polarization data could in principle distinguish different histories that have the same optical depth. We discuss how well the Planck satellite may be able to constrain the ionization history, and show the currently very weak constraints from WMAP three-year data.
Changes to match MNRAS accepted version
References in corpus (2)
Cited by in corpus (31)
- The CosmoVerse White Paper: Addressing observational tensions in cosmology with systematics and fundamental physics
- Updated CMB constraints on Dark Matter annihilation cross-sections
- Contraints on radiative dark-matter decay from the cosmic microwave background
- The Dependence of Galaxy Formation on Cosmological Parameters: Can we distinguish the WMAP1 and WMAP3 Parameter Sets?
- How well do we understand cosmological recombination?
- Using BBN in cosmological parameter extraction from CMB: a forecast for Planck
- Primordial helium recombination I: feedback, line transfer, and continuum opacity
- Cosmological hydrogen recombination: populations of the high level sub-states
- Two-photon transitions in primordial hydrogen recombination
- Cosmological hydrogen recombination: Lyn line feedback and continuum escape
- A small-scale dynamo in feedback-dominated galaxies - III. Cosmological simulations
- Prospects for Constraining Neutrino Mass Using Planck and Lyman-Alpha Forest Data
- Probing the Effective Number of Neutrino Species with Cosmic Microwave Background
- Primordial helium recombination III: Thomson scattering, isotope shifts, and cumulative results
- Primordial Helium Abundance from CMB: a constraint from recent observations and a forecast
- Constraints on Brane Inflation and Cosmic Strings
- Primordial helium recombination II: two-photon processes
- The prospects for constraining dark energy with future X-ray cluster gas mass fraction measurements
- Impact of reionization on CMB polarization tests of slow-roll inflation
- Radiative transfer effects in primordial hydrogen recombination
- Delayed Recombination and Cosmic Parameters
- Effects of CMB temperature uncertainties on cosmological parameter estimation
- Harrison-Z'eldovich primordial spectrum is consistent with observations
- Impact of general reionization scenarios on extraction of inflationary parameters
- Chameleon-Photon Mixing in a Primordial Magnetic Field
- Model independent approaches to reionization in the analysis of upcoming CMB data
- Planck and reionization history: a model selection view
- Optimising Boltzmann codes for the Planck era
- Standard Electroweak Interactions in Gravitational Theory with Chameleon Field and Torsion
- Can galactic magnetic fields diffuse into the voids?
- Impact of reionization history on constraining primordial gravitational waves in future all-sky cosmic microwave background experiments