Detailseite
Projekt
Unveiling the primordial universe
Antragstellerin
Dr. Benedetta Ciardi
Fachliche Zuordnung
Astrophysik und Astronomie
Förderung
Förderung von 2009 bis 2012
Projektkennung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 125195241
Despite much recent theoretical and observational progress in our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies, many fundamental questions remain only partially answered, in particular, those related to the details of cosmic reionization. As it has a strong impact on the formation and evolution of galaxies, it is crucial to shed light on this process. Although several reionization studies have been done, none includes all the physics required for its proper modeling. This is because the problem is computationally very challenging and because to this date no research group working in the field has all the expertise and the technical means to attach it. Right now we are the only group with a 3D radiative transfer code for cosmological application that is able to follow the propagation of Ly, UV and x-ray photons and allows to calculate the evolution of H, H+, He, He+, He++, free electrons and IGM temperature. We plan to study the reionization due to both stars (which emit mainly in the UV) and QSOs (with a harder spectrum) and, at the same time, to follow the propagation of the Ly photons which are important for the observability of the 21 cm line from neutral hydrogen. With these improved models we will produce reliable predictions for observations of 21 cm signal, which is believed to be the ultimate observational tool to put stringent constraints on the reionization history.
DFG-Verfahren
Schwerpunktprogramme
