Constraints on the End of Reionization from the Density Fields Surrounding Two Highly Opaque Quasar Sightlines
Constraints on the End of Reionization from the Density Fields Surrounding Two Highly Opaque Quasar Sightlines
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DOI：
10.3847/1538-4357/ac2a34
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发表时间：
2021-09
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
H. Christenson;G. Becker;S. Furlanetto;F. Davies;M. Malkan;Yong Zhu;E. Boera;A. Trapp
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文献类型：
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作者：
H. Christenson;G. Becker;S. Furlanetto;F. Davies;M. Malkan;Yong Zhu;E. Boera;A. Trapp
在z < 6的星系际介质中观测到的Lyα不透明度的大尺度散射意味着中性氢分数的大波动，这在再电离结束后很长一段时间内都是意想不到的。已经出现了许多模型来解释这些波动，这些模型对Lyα不透明度和密度之间的关系做出了可检验的预测。我们提出了z = 5.7 Lyα发射星系（LAEs）的选择周围的领域中的两个高度不透明的类星体的视线与长Lyα槽。磁场朝向z = 6.0的类星体ULAS J 0148 +0600，我们使用改进的光度选择重新分析了先前发表的结果，并朝向z = 6.15的类星体SDSS J1250+3130，其结果首次在这里呈现。在这两个领域，我们报告了类星体20 h-1 Mpc内LAE的赤字。在这两个场中，高度不透明的视线与星系低密度的关联与Lyα不透明度的散射是由电离紫外背景的大尺度波动或由z = 5.7时尚未结束的超晚期再电离驱动的模型一致。
The observed large-scale scatter in Lyα opacity of the intergalactic medium at z < 6 implies large fluctuations in the neutral hydrogen fraction that are unexpected long after reionization has ended. A number of models have emerged to explain these fluctuations that make testable predictions for the relationship between Lyα opacity and density. We present selections of z = 5.7 Lyα-emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the fields surrounding two highly opaque quasar sightlines with long Lyα troughs. The fields lie toward the z = 6.0 quasar ULAS J0148+0600, for which we reanalyze previously published results using improved photometric selection, and toward the z = 6.15 quasar SDSS J1250+3130, for which results are presented here for the first time. In both fields, we report a deficit of LAEs within 20 h −1 Mpc of the quasar. The association of highly opaque sightlines with galaxy underdensities in these two fields is consistent with models in which the scatter in Lyα opacity is driven by large-scale fluctuations in the ionizing UV background or by an ultra-late reionization that has not yet concluded at z = 5.7.