@inbook{b8f610b24b3c49af9d25779c52274f3b,
title = "Observational constraints on cosmic reionization",
abstract = "Observations have set the first constraints on the epoch of reionization (EoR), corresponding to the formation epoch of the first luminous objects. Studies of Gunn-Peterson (GP) absorption indicate a rapid increase in the neutral fraction of the intergalactic medium (IGM) from x HI < 10 -4 at z ≤ 5.5, to x HI > 10 -3, perhaps up to 0.1, at z ∼ 6, while the large scale polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) implies a significant ionization fraction extending to higher redshifts, z ∼ 11 ± 3. These results, as well as observations of galaxy populations, suggest that reionization is a process that begins as early as z ∼ 14, and ends with the {"}percolation{"} phase at z ∼ 6 to 8. Low luminosity star-forming galaxies are likely the dominant sources of reionizing photons. Future low-frequency radio telescopes will make direct measurements of HI 21-cm emission from the neutral IGM during the EoR, and measurements of secondary CMB temperature anisorropy will provide details of the dynamics of the reionized IGM.",
keywords = "Cosmic reionization, Galaxy formation, Observational cosmology",
author = "Xiaohui Fan and Carilli, {C. L.} and B. Keating",
year = "2006",
doi = "10.1146/annurev.astro.44.051905.092514",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "0824309448",
series = "Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics",
pages = "415--462",
editor = "Roger Blandford and John Kormendy and Ewine Dishoeck",
booktitle = "Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics",
}