Exploring the thermal state of the low-density intergalactic medium at z = 3 with an ultrahigh signal-to-noise QSO spectrum

Abstract At low densities, the standard ionization history of the intergalactic medium (IGM) predicts a decreasing temperature of the IGM with decreasing density once hydrogen (and helium) reionization is complete. Heating the high-redshift, low-density IGM above the temperature expected from photoh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2017-04, Vol.466 (3), p.2690-2709
Main Authors: Rorai, A., Becker, G. D., Haehnelt, M. G., Carswell, R. F., Bolton, J. S., Cristiani, S., D'Odorico, V., Cupani, G., Barai, P., Calura, F., Kim, T.-S., Pomante, E., Tescari, E., Viel, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Confidence intervals
Density
Heating
Helium
Hydrogen
Ionization
Opacity
Probability density functions
Signal to noise ratio
Star & galaxy formation
Universe
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Summary:Abstract At low densities, the standard ionization history of the intergalactic medium (IGM) predicts a decreasing temperature of the IGM with decreasing density once hydrogen (and helium) reionization is complete. Heating the high-redshift, low-density IGM above the temperature expected from photoheating is difficult, and previous claims of high/rising temperatures in low-density regions of the Universe based on the probability density function (PDF) of the opacity in Ly α forest data at 2 
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stw2917