The Search for Ionizing Radiation at High Redshift

Event Date:
2021-06-23T10:00:00
2021-06-23T11:00:00
Event Location:
Online
Speaker:
Alice Shapley (UCLA)
Related Upcoming Events:
Intended Audience:
Graduate
Local Contact:

Allison Man

Event Information:

Determining the contribution of galaxies to the reionization of the universe is a fundamental goal for studies of the intergalactic medium (IGM), and galaxy formation and evolution. A direct measurement of ionizing Lyman-continuum radiation escaping from galaxies is not possible at the epoch of reionization, due to the high optical depth of the IGM, and therefore observations of this process at slightly lower redshift are crucial for understanding what happens at z>6. For the past several years, we have been attempting direct imaging and spectroscopic observations of escaping ionizing radiation at z~3, using both ground-based and HST data. These observations have uncovered many possible sources of Lyman continuum radiation, but also reveal the challenges associated with low-redshift contamination. We highlight the current state of the field and promising upcoming methods for determining f_esc, the escape fraction of ionizing radiation.

"2021 BC Galaxy Summer Seminars" is an online seminar series organized jointly by SFU, UBC and UVic. For the full series schedule, visit the series webpage. Subscribe to our e-mail list here to get reminders about these seminars.

Add to Calendar 2021-06-23T10:00:00 2021-06-23T11:00:00 The Search for Ionizing Radiation at High Redshift Event Information: Determining the contribution of galaxies to the reionization of the universe is a fundamental goal for studies of the intergalactic medium (IGM), and galaxy formation and evolution. A direct measurement of ionizing Lyman-continuum radiation escaping from galaxies is not possible at the epoch of reionization, due to the high optical depth of the IGM, and therefore observations of this process at slightly lower redshift are crucial for understanding what happens at z>6. For the past several years, we have been attempting direct imaging and spectroscopic observations of escaping ionizing radiation at z~3, using both ground-based and HST data. These observations have uncovered many possible sources of Lyman continuum radiation, but also reveal the challenges associated with low-redshift contamination. We highlight the current state of the field and promising upcoming methods for determining f_esc, the escape fraction of ionizing radiation. "2021 BC Galaxy Summer Seminars" is an online seminar series organized jointly by SFU, UBC and UVic. For the full series schedule, visit the series webpage. Subscribe to our e-mail list here to get reminders about these seminars. Event Location: Online