Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: The goal of searching back in cosmic time to find star formation during the epoch of reionization will soon be within reach. We assess the detectability of high-redshift galaxies by combining cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation, stellar evolution models appropriate for the first generations of stars, and estimates of the efficiency for Lyα to escape from forming galaxies into the intergalactic medium. Our simulated observations show that Lyα emission at z ~ 8 may be observable in the near-infrared with 8 m class telescopes and present-day technology. Not only is the detection of early star-forming objects vital to understanding the underlying cause of the reionization of the universe, but the timely discovery of a z > 7 star-forming population—or even an interesting upper limit on the emergent flux from these objects—will have implications for the design of the next generation of ground- and space-based facilities.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/383489
Authors: Elizabeth J. Barton, Romeel Dav, John-David T. Smith, Casey Papovich, Lars Hernquist, Volker Springel
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G433322167, G58316358, G6273510985
OpenAlex ID: W1967568885