Improved Constraints on the Neutral Intergalactic Hydrogen Surrounding Quasars at Redshifts z > 6

, , and

© 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
, , Citation J. Stuart B. Wyithe et al 2005 ApJ 628 575 DOI 10.1086/430874

0004-637X/628/2/575

Abstract

We analyze the evolution of H II regions around the seven known SDSS quasars at z > 6. The comparison between the observed and model radii of the H II regions generated by these quasars individually suggests that the surrounding intergalactic hydrogen is significantly neutral. When all constraints are combined, the existing quasar sample implies a volume-averaged neutral fraction that is larger than 10% at z > 6. This limited sample permits a preliminary analysis of the correlations between the quasar parameters, the sizes of their H II regions, and the associated constraints on the neutral hydrogen fraction. We find no evidence in these correlations to contradict the interpretation that the red side of the Gunn-Peterson trough corresponds to the boundary between an H II region and a partially neutral IGM.

Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS

Please wait… references are loading.
10.1086/430874