Possible evidence for a large-scale enhancement in the Lyman-α forest power spectrum at redshiftz≥ 4

Author:

Molaro Margherita1ORCID,Iršič Vid2,Bolton James S1ORCID,Lieu Maggie1ORCID,Keating Laura C3ORCID,Puchwein Ewald4ORCID,Haehnelt Martin G2,Viel Matteo5678

Affiliation:

1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park , Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK

2. Kavli Institute for Cosmology and Institute of Astronomy , Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK

3. Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

4. Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam , An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany

5. SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies , Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy

6. IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe , Via Beirut 2, I-34151 Trieste, Italy

7. INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste , Via G.B. Tiepolo 11, I-34131 Trieste, Italy

8. INFN – National Institute for Nuclear Physics , Via Valerio 2, I-34127 Trieste, Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACTInhomogeneous reionization enhances the 1D Ly α forest power spectrum on large scales at redshifts z ≥ 4. This is due to coherent fluctuations in the ionized hydrogen fraction that arise from large-scale variations in the post-reionization gas temperature, which fade as the gas cools. It is therefore possible to use these relic fluctuations to constrain inhomogeneous reionization with the power spectrum at wavenumbers $\log _{10}(k/{\rm km^{-1}\, s})\lesssim -1.5$. We use the Sherwood-Relics suite of hybrid radiation hydrodynamical simulations to perform a first analysis of new Ly α forest power spectrum measurements at 4.0 ≤ z ≤ 4.6. These data extend to wavenumbers $\log _{10}(k/{\rm km^{-1}\, s})\simeq -3$, with a relative uncertainty of 10–20 per cent in each wavenumber bin. Our analysis returns a 2.7σ preference for an enhancement in the Ly α forest power spectrum at large scales, in excess of that expected for a spatially uniform ultraviolet background. This large-scale enhancement could be a signature of inhomogeneous reionization, although the statistical precision of these data is not yet sufficient for obtaining a robust detection of the relic post-reionization fluctuations. We show that future power spectrum measurements with relative uncertainties of ≲ 2.5 per cent should provide unambiguous evidence for an enhancement in the power spectrum on large scales.

Funder

STFC

Durham University

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Space and Planetary Science,Astronomy and Astrophysics

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