A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
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Evidence of patchy hydrogen reionization from an extreme Ly$\alpha$ trough below redshift six
10 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We report the discovery of an extremely long ($\sim$110 Mpc/$h$) and dark ($\tau_{\rm eff} \gtrsim 7$) Ly$\alpha$ trough extending down to $z \simeq 5.5$ towards the $z_{\rm em} \simeq 6.0$ quasar ULAS J0148+0600. We use these new data in combination with Ly$\alpha$ forest measurements from 42 quasars at $4.5 \le z_{\rm em} \le 6.4$ to conduct an updated analysis of the line-of-sight variance in the intergalactic Ly$\alpha$ opacity over $4 \le z \le 6$. We find that the scatter in transmission among lines of sight near $z \sim 6$ significantly exceeds theoretical expectations for either a uniform ultraviolet background (UVB) or simple fluctuating UVB models in which the mean free path to ionizing photons is spatially invariant. The data, particularly near $z \simeq 5.6$-5.8, instead require fluctuations in the volume-weighted hydrogen neutral fraction that are a factor of 3 or more beyond those expected from density variations alone. We argue that these fluctuations are most likely driven by large-scale variations in the mean free path, consistent with expectations for the final stages of inhomogeneous hydrogen reionization. Even by $z \simeq 5.6$, however, a large fraction of the data are consistent with a uniform UVB, and by $z \sim 5$ the data are fully consistent with opacity fluctuations arising solely from the density field. This suggests that while reionization may be ongoing at $z \sim 6$, it has fully completed by $z \sim 5$.
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Resolved multiphase observations reveal a supernova-driven wind in a z=5.3 galaxy removing gas at twice the star-formation rate, potentially quenching it within 100 Myr and matching local superwind properties.
kNN CDF statistics detect 21cm-galaxy cross-correlations more effectively than two-point methods and distinguish reionization models at fixed ionized fraction even with noise and foregrounds.
DESI DR1 Lyman-alpha data yields Δ²★=0.379±0.032 and n★=-2.309±0.019 at k★=0.009 km⁻¹s and z=3, sharpening N_eff, α_s, and β_s constraints by factors of 1.18-1.90 when combined with other probes.
Empirical three-parameter fit to f_esc(M_h,z) yields steep redshift evolution with population-averaged escape fraction rising from ~2% at z=5 to ~9% at z=12.
21cmEMUv3 emulates the cylindrical 21cm power spectrum via score-based diffusion and six other 21cmFAST observables via LSTM networks at sub-percent accuracy, then uses the emulator to infer a lower limit on soft-band X-ray luminosity from HERA data.
Lumina runs a 500 cMpc radiation-hydrodynamic simulation combining IllustrisTNG galaxy formation with six-bin M1 radiation transport to predict late stellar-driven HI reionization ending around z=4.75 and AGN-driven HeII reionization nearly complete by z=3.
DESI DR2 BAO and full-shape data plus CMB yield ∑m_ν < 0.0642 eV (95% CL) under ΛCDM, in 3σ tension with oscillation lower limits, relaxed to <0.163 eV in w0waCDM.
This review summarizes SKA-Low's tomographic imaging potential for the 21-cm signal and its connection to the global 21-cm signal.
Review of machine learning applications for analyzing Lyman-alpha forest observations to probe cosmology, reionization, and dark matter.
citing papers explorer
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A self-consistent analytical model for both the photoionization rate and reionization history
A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
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Multiphase images of a powerful supernova-driven wind in the early Universe
Resolved multiphase observations reveal a supernova-driven wind in a z=5.3 galaxy removing gas at twice the star-formation rate, potentially quenching it within 100 Myr and matching local superwind properties.
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Nearest Neighbour-Based Statistics for 21cm-Galaxy Cross-Correlations in the Epoch of Reionization
kNN CDF statistics detect 21cm-galaxy cross-correlations more effectively than two-point methods and distinguish reionization models at fixed ionized fraction even with noise and foregrounds.
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Cosmological analysis of the DESI DR1 Lyman alpha 1D power spectrum
DESI DR1 Lyman-alpha data yields Δ²★=0.379±0.032 and n★=-2.309±0.019 at k★=0.009 km⁻¹s and z=3, sharpening N_eff, α_s, and β_s constraints by factors of 1.18-1.90 when combined with other probes.
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Steep Redshift Evolution of the Ionizing Escape Fraction at $z = 5$--$12$: Empirical Constraints and Comparison with Simulations
Empirical three-parameter fit to f_esc(M_h,z) yields steep redshift evolution with population-averaged escape fraction rising from ~2% at z=5 to ~9% at z=12.
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21cmEMUv3: a hybrid diffusion-LSTM emulator of 21cmFAST summary observables
21cmEMUv3 emulates the cylindrical 21cm power spectrum via score-based diffusion and six other 21cmFAST observables via LSTM networks at sub-percent accuracy, then uses the emulator to infer a lower limit on soft-band X-ray luminosity from HERA data.
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Introducing the Lumina project: large-volume radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the epochs of hydrogen and helium reionization
Lumina runs a 500 cMpc radiation-hydrodynamic simulation combining IllustrisTNG galaxy formation with six-bin M1 radiation transport to predict late stellar-driven HI reionization ending around z=4.75 and AGN-driven HeII reionization nearly complete by z=3.
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Constraints on Neutrino Physics from DESI DR2 BAO and DR1 Full Shape
DESI DR2 BAO and full-shape data plus CMB yield ∑m_ν < 0.0642 eV (95% CL) under ΛCDM, in 3σ tension with oscillation lower limits, relaxed to <0.163 eV in w0waCDM.
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Imaging the 21-cm Signal from the Cosmic Dawn & Epoch of Reionization and the Connection with the Global Signal
This review summarizes SKA-Low's tomographic imaging potential for the 21-cm signal and its connection to the global 21-cm signal.
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Machine Learning Techniques for Astrophysics and Cosmology: Lyman-$\alpha$ forest
Review of machine learning applications for analyzing Lyman-alpha forest observations to probe cosmology, reionization, and dark matter.