The reionisation of the all-pervading intergalactic medium (IGM) is a landmark event in the cosmic history of structure formation. Still, despite much recent progress, a coherent description of the thermal state and ionisation degree of the IGM, the repository of most of the baryons across the history of the Universe, remains elusive. Most of our understanding of IGM physics, and its implication for galaxy formation and metal enrichment, depends critically on the properties of the cosmic ionising background. Over the last 15 years detailed models of cosmic reionisation have been propsed and adopted in cosmological studies. Yet, many uncertainties still exist, and background models are now facing hard challenges, when confronted to new observations both in the local Universe and at high redshifts. In this contribution, I review our current understanding of the reionisation era, and the many problems still open.

THE PROBES AND SOURCES OF COSMIC REIONISATION

Haardt F.
Primo
2017-01-01

Abstract

The reionisation of the all-pervading intergalactic medium (IGM) is a landmark event in the cosmic history of structure formation. Still, despite much recent progress, a coherent description of the thermal state and ionisation degree of the IGM, the repository of most of the baryons across the history of the Universe, remains elusive. Most of our understanding of IGM physics, and its implication for galaxy formation and metal enrichment, depends critically on the properties of the cosmic ionising background. Over the last 15 years detailed models of cosmic reionisation have been propsed and adopted in cosmological studies. Yet, many uncertainties still exist, and background models are now facing hard challenges, when confronted to new observations both in the local Universe and at high redshifts. In this contribution, I review our current understanding of the reionisation era, and the many problems still open.
2017
Frascati Physics Series
16th Vulcano Workshop on Frontier objects in Astrophysics and Particle Physics, Vulcano 2016
Therasia Resort, ita
2016
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2136512
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact