The Spin-Temperature Coupling Epoch and Its Sensitivity to the Bounce
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Before the first stars, the hydrogen spin temperature is tied to the gas by collisions; after they form, Lyman-alpha photons take over that role through the Wouthuysen-Field mechanism. Using the stated cosmology and the brightness-temperature relations described in the Methods, the calculation gives the following headline values: z couple = 22.5; z couple standard = 25; shift = -2.5; coupling x = 1.40. The comparison values taken from the published record — including the EDGES and SARAS reports, HERA limits and the Planck optical depth where relevant — are used exactly as published, and the bounce contribution enters only through the named timing, heating or shear inputs. The result is a computed prediction for the delayed-onset history, with its sensitivity to each input stated in the Discussion. This study is simulated and computed from stated assumptions; it is not a measurement.
Author: Aldred, William Alexander
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225792707
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