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Prakash Gaikwad

Publications and source records attributed to Prakash Gaikwad.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Probing Ultra-late Reionization: Direct Measurements of the Mean Free Path over $5<z<6$

The mean free path of ionizing photons, $λ_{\rm mfp}$, is a critical parameter for modeling the intergalactic medium (IGM) both during and after reionization. We present direct measurements of $λ_{\rm mfp}$ from QSO spectra over the redshift range $5<z<6$, including the first measurements at $z\simeq5.3$ and 5.6. Our sample includes data from the XQR-30 VLT large program, as well as new Keck/ESI observations of QSOs near $z \sim 5.5$, for which we also acquire new [C II] 158$μ$m redshifts with ALMA. By measuring the Lyman continuum transmission profile in stacked QSO spectra, we find $λ_{\rm mfp} = 9.33_{-1.80}^{+2.06}$, $5.40_{-1.40}^{+1.47}$, $3.31_{-1.34}^{+2.74}$, and $0.81_{-0.48}^{+0.73}$ pMpc at $z=5.08$, 5.31, 5.65, and 5.93, respectively. Our results demonstrate that $λ_{\rm mfp}$ increases steadily and rapidly with time over $5<z<6$. Notably, we find that $λ_{\rm mfp}$ deviates significantly from predictions based on a fully ionized and relaxed IGM as late as $z=5.3$. By comparing our results to model predictions and indirect $λ_{\rm mfp}$ constraints based on IGM Ly$α$ opacity, we find that the $λ_{\rm mfp}$ evolution is consistent with scenarios wherein the IGM is still undergoing reionization and/or retains large fluctuations in the ionizing UV background well below redshift six.

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arXiv2023

Role of ionizing background on the statistics of metal absorbers in hydrodynamical simulations

We study the statistical properties of O VI, C IV, and Ne VIII absorbers at low-$z$ (i.e., $z<0.5$) using Sherwood simulations with "WIND" only and "WIND+AGN" feedback and Massive black simulation that incorporates both "WIND" i.e. outflows driven by stellar feedback and AGN feedbacks. For each simulation, by considering a wide range of metagalactic ionizing UV background (UVB), we show the statistical properties such as distribution functions of column density ($N$), $b$-paramerer and velocity spread ($ΔV_{90}$), the relationship between $N$ and $b$-parameter and the fraction of Lya absorbers showing detectable metal lines as a function of $N$(H I) are influenced by the UVB used. This is because UVB changes the range in density, temperature, and metallicity of gas contributing to a given absorption line. For simulations considered here, we show the difference in some of the predicted distributions between different simulations is similar to the one obtained by varying the UVB for a given simulation. Most of the observed properties of O VI absorbers are roughly matched by Sherwood simulation with "WIND+AGN" feedback when using the UVB with a lower O VI ionization rate. However, this simulation fails to produce observed distributions of C IV and fraction of H I absorbers with detectable metals. Therefore, in order to constrain different feedback processes and/or UVBs, using observed properties of H I and metal ions, it is important to perform simultaneous analysis of various observable parameters.

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arXiv2023

The Sherwood-Relics simulations: overview and impact of patchy reionization and pressure smoothing on the intergalactic medium

We present the Sherwood-Relics simulations, a new suite of large cosmological hydrodynamical simulations aimed at modelling the intergalactic medium (IGM) during and after the cosmic reionization of hydrogen. The suite consists of over 200 simulations that cover a wide range of astrophysical and cosmological parameters. It also includes simulations that use a new lightweight hybrid scheme for treating radiative transfer effects. This scheme follows the spatial variations in the ionizing radiation field, as well as the associated fluctuations in IGM temperature and pressure smoothing. It is computationally much cheaper than full radiation hydrodynamics simulations and circumvents the difficult task of calibrating a galaxy formation model to observational constraints on cosmic reionization. Using this hybrid technique, we study the spatial fluctuations in IGM properties that are seeded by patchy cosmic reionization. We investigate the relevant physical processes and assess their impact on the z > 4 Lyman-alpha forest. Our main findings are: (i) Consistent with previous studies patchy reionization causes large scale temperature fluctuations that persist well after the end of reionization, (ii) these increase the Lyman-alpha forest flux power spectrum on large scales, and (iii) result in a spatially varying pressure smoothing that correlates well with the local reionization redshift. (iv) Structures evaporated or puffed up by photoheating cause notable features in the Lyman-alpha forest, such as flat-bottom or double-dip absorption profiles.

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arXiv2023

Lognormal semi-numerical simulations of the Lyman-$α$ forest: comparison with full hydrodynamic simulations

Observations of the Lyman-$α$ (Ly$α$) forest in spectra of distant quasars enable us to probe the matter power spectrum at relatively small scales. With several upcoming surveys, it is expected that there will be a many-fold increase in the quantity and quality of data, and hence it is important to develop efficient simulations to forward model these data sets. One such semi-numerical method is based on the assumption that the baryonic densities in the intergalactic medium (IGM) follow a lognormal distribution. In this work, we test the robustness of the lognormal model of the Ly$α$ forest in recovering a set of IGM parameters by comparing with high-resolution Sherwood SPH simulations. We study the recovery of the parameters $T_0$ (temperature of the mean-density IGM), $γ$ (slope of the temperature-density relation) and $Γ_{12}$ (hydrogen photoionization rate) at $z \sim 2.5$ using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique for parameter estimation. Using three flux statistics, the probability distribution, the mean flux and the power spectrum, values of all three parameters, $T_0$, $γ$ and $Γ_{12}$ implied in the SPH simulations are recovered within $1 - σ$ ($\sim$ 9, 4 and 1% respectively) of the median (best-fit) values. We verify the validity of our results at different baryon smoothing filter, SNR, box size & resolution, and data seed and confirm that the lognormal model can be used as an efficient tool for modelling the Ly$α$ transmitted flux at $z \sim 2.5$.

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arXiv2022

Long Dark Gaps in the Ly$β$ Forest at $z<6$: Evidence of Ultra Late Reionization from XQR-30 Spectra

We present a new investigation of the intergalactic medium (IGM) near reionization using dark gaps in the Lyman-$β$ (Ly$β$) forest. With its lower optical depth, Ly$β$ offers a potentially more sensitive probe to any remaining neutral gas compared to commonly used Ly$α$ line. We identify dark gaps in the Ly$β$ forest using spectra of 42 QSOs at $z_{\rm em}>5.5$, including new data from the XQR-30 VLT Large Programme. Approximately $40\%$ of these QSO spectra exhibit dark gaps longer than $10h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$ at $z\simeq5.8$. By comparing the results to predictions from simulations, we find that the data are broadly consistent both with models where fluctuations in the Ly$α$ forest are caused solely by ionizing ultraviolet background (UVB) fluctuations and with models that include large neutral hydrogen patches at $z<6$ due to a late end to reionization. Of particular interest is a very long ($L=28h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$) and dark ($τ_{\rm eff} \gtrsim 6$) gap persisting down to $z\simeq 5.5$ in the Ly$β$ forest of the $z_{\rm}=5.85$ QSO PSO J025$-$11. This gap may support late reionization models with a volume-weighted average neutral hydrogen fraction of $ \langle x_{\rm HI}\rangle \gtrsim 5\%$ by $z=5.6$. Finally, we infer constraints on $\langle x_{\rm HI}\rangle$ over $5.5 \lesssim z \lesssim 6.0$ based on the observed Ly$β$ dark gap length distribution and a conservative relationship between gap length and neutral fraction derived from simulations. We find $\langle x_{\rm HI}\rangle \leq 0.05$, 0.17, and 0.29 at $z\simeq 5.55$, 5.75, and 5.95, respectively. These constraints are consistent with models where reionization ends significantly later than $z = 6$.

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arXiv2022

Limits on non-canonical heating and turbulence in the intergalactic medium from the low redshift Lyman-alpha forest

We examine the column density distribution function (CDDF) and Doppler parameter distribution from hydrodynamical simulations and Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) observations of the Lyman-alpha forest at redshift $0\leq z\leq 0.2$. Allowing for a factor of two uncertainty in the metagalactic HI photoionisation rate, our hydrodynamical simulations are in good agreement ($1$-$1.5σ$) with the shape and amplitude of the observed CDDF at HI column densities $10^{13.3}\rm\,cm^{-2}\leq N_{\rm HI}\leq 10^{14.5}\rm\,cm^{-2}$. However, the Doppler widths of the simulated lines remain too narrow with respect to the COS data. We argue that invoking AGN feedback does not resolve this discrepancy. We also disfavour enhanced photoheating rates as a potential solution, as this requires an unphysically hard UV background spectrum. If instead appealing to a non-canonical source of heating, an additional specific heat injection of $u \lesssim 6.9\rm\,eV\,m_{\rm p}^{-1}$ is required at $z\lesssim 2.5$ for gas that has $N_{\rm HI}\simeq 10^{13.5}\rm\,cm^{-2}$ by $z=0.1$. Alternatively, there may be an unresolved line of sight turbulent velocity component of $v_{\rm turb}\lesssim 8.5\rm\,km\,s^{-1}(N_{\rm HI}/10^{13.5}\rm\,cm^{-2})^{0.21}$ for the coldest gas in the diffuse IGM.

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arXiv2022

The effect of inhomogeneous reionisation on the Lyman-$α$ forest power spectrum at redshift $z>4$: implications for thermal parameter recovery

We use the Sherwood-Relics suite of hybrid hydrodynamical and radiative transfer simulations to model the effect of inhomogeneous reionisation on the 1D power spectrum of the \Lya forest transmitted flux at redshifts $4.2\leq z \leq 5$. Relative to models that assume a homogeneous UV background, reionisation suppresses the power spectrum at small scales, $k \sim 0.1\rm\,km^{-1}\,s$ by $\sim 10$ per cent because of spatial variations in the thermal broadening kernel and the divergent peculiar velocity field associated with over-pressurised intergalactic gas. On larger scales, $k<0.03\rm\,km^{-1}\,s$, the power spectrum is instead enhanced by $10$--$50$ per cent by large scale spatial variations in the neutral hydrogen fraction. The effect of inhomogeneous reionisation must therefore be accounted for in analyses of forthcoming high precision measurements. We provide a correction for the Ly$α$ forest power spectrum at $4.1\leq z \leq 5.4$ that can be easily applied within other parameter inference frameworks using similar reionisation models. We perform a Bayesian analysis of mock data to assess the extent of systematic biases that may arise in measurements of the intergalactic medium if ignoring this correction. At the scales probed by current high resolution Ly$α$ forest data at $z>4$, $0.006 \rm \,km^{-1}\,s\leq k \leq 0.2 \rm\, km^{-1}\,s$, we find inhomogeneous reionisation does not introduce any significant bias in thermal parameter recovery for the current measurement uncertainties of $\sim 10$ per cent. However, for $5$ per cent uncertainties, $\sim 1σ$ shifts between the estimated and true parameters occur.

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arXiv2021

Measurement of redshift-space two- and three-point correlation of Ly$α$ absorbers at $1.7< z <3.5$: Implications on evolution of the physical properties of IGM

We present redshift space two-point ($ξ$), three-point ($ζ$) and reduced three-point (Q) correlations of Ly$α$ absorbers (Voigt profile components having HI column density, $N_{\rm HI}>10^{13.5}$cm$^{-2}$) over three redshift bins spanning $1.7< z<3.5$ using high-resolution spectra of 292 quasars. We detect positive $ξ$ up to 8 $h^{-1}$ cMpc in all three redshift bins. The strongest detection of $ζ=1.81\pm 0.59$ (with Q$=0.68\pm 0.23$), is in $z=1.7-2.3$ bin at $1-2h^{-1}$ cMpc. The measured $ξ$ and $ζ$ values show an increasing trend with $N_{\rm HI}$, while Q remains relatively independent of $N_{\rm HI}$. We find $ξ$ and $ζ$ to evolve strongly with redshift. Using simulations, we find that $ξ$ and $ζ$ seen in real space may be strongly amplified by peculiar velocities in redshift space. Simulations suggest that while feedback, thermal and pressure smoothing effects influence the clustering of Ly$α$ absorbers at small scales, i.e $<0.5h^{-1}$ cMpc, the HI photo-ionization rate ($Γ_{\rm HI}$) has a strong influence at all scales. The strong redshift evolution of $ξ$ and $ζ$ (for a fixed $N_{\rm HI}$-cutoff) is driven by the redshift evolution of the relationship between $N_{\rm HI}$ and baryon overdensity. Our simulation using best-fitted $Γ_{\rm HI}(z)$ measurements produces consistent clustering signals with observations at $z\sim 2$ but under-predicts the clustering at higher redshifts. One possible remedy is to have higher values of $Γ_{\rm HI}$ at higher redshifts. Alternatively the discrepancy could be related to non-equilibrium and inhomogeneous conditions prevailing during HeII reionization not captured by our simulations.

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arXiv2021

A consistent and robust measurement of the thermal state of the IGM at $2 \leq z \leq 4$ from a large sample of Ly$α$ forest spectra: Evidence for late and rapid HeII reionization

We characterise the thermal state of the intergalactic medium (IGM) in ten redshift bins in the redshift range $2 \leq z \leq 4$ with a sample of 103 high resolution, high S/N Ly$α$ forest spectra using four different flux distribution statistics. Our measurements are calibrated with mock spectra from a large suite of hydrodynamical simulations post-processed with our thermal IGM evolution code CITE, finely sampling amplitude and slope of the expected temperature-density relation. The thermal parameters inferred from our measurements of the flux power spectrum, Doppler parameter distribution, as well as wavelet and curvature statistics agree well within their respective errors and all clearly show the peak in temperature and minimum in slope of the temperature density relation expected from HeII reionization. Combining our measurements from the different flux statistics gives $T_0=(14750 \pm 1322)$K for the peak temperature at mean density and a corresponding minimum slope $γ= 1.225 \pm 0.120$. The peak in the temperature evolution occurs at $z \approx 3$, in agreement with previous measurements that had suggested the presence of such a peak, albeit with a large scatter. Using CITE, we also calculate the thermal state of the IGM predicted by five widely used (spatially homogeneous) UV-background models. The rather rapid thermal evolution inferred by our measurements is well reproduced by two of the models, if we assume (physically well motivated) non-equilibrium evolution with photo-heating rates that are reduced by a moderate factor of $\sim 0.7-0.8$. The other three models predict HeII reionization to be more extended with a somewhat earlier as well as higher temperature peak than our measurements suggest.

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arXiv2021

Redshift space three-point correlation function of IGM at $z<0.48$

The Ly$α$ forest decomposed into Voigt profile components allow us to study clustering properties of the intergalactic medium and its dependence on various physical quantities. Here, we report the first detections of probability excess of low-z (i.e z<0.48) Ly$α$ absorber triplets over a scale of $r_\parallel\leq8$pMpc with a maximum amplitude of $8.76^{+1.96}_{-1.65}$ at a longitudinal separation of 1-2pMpc. We measure non-zero three-point correlation ($ζ=4.76^{+1.98}_{-1.67}$) only at this scale with reduced three-point correlation value of Q=$0.95^{+0.39}_{-0.38}$. The measured $ζ$ shows an increasing trend with increasing HI column density ($N_{HI}$) while Q does not show any $N_{HI}$ dependence. About 88% of the triplets contributing to $ζ$ (at z$\le0.2$) have nearby galaxies (whose distribution is known to be complete for 0.1L$_*$ at z<0.1 and for L$_*$ at z~0.25 and within 20' to the quasar sightlines) within a velocity separation of 500$kms^{-1}$ and a median impact parameter of 405pkpc. The measured impact parameters are consistent with appreciable number of triplets at z$\le0.2$ not originating from individual galaxies but tracing the underlying galaxy distribution. Frequency of occurrence of high-b absorbers in triplets (~85%) is a factor~3 higher than that found among the full sample (~32%). Using four different cosmological simulations, we quantify the effect of peculiar velocities, feedback effects and show that most of the observed trends are broadly reproduced. However, $ζ$ at small scales ($r_\parallel<1$pMpc) and b-dependence of $ζ$ in simulations are found inconsistent with the observations. This could either be related to the fact that none of these simulations reproduce the observed b-distribution and $N_{HI}$ distribution for $N_{HI}>10^{14}$cm$^{-2}$ self-consistently or to the widespread of signal-to-noise ratio in the observed data.

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arXiv2020

Three- and two-point spatial correlations of IGM at $z\sim 2$: Cloud based analysis using simulations

Ly$α$ forest absorption spectra decomposed into multiple Voigt profile components (clouds) allow us to study clustering of intergalactic medium (IGM) as a function of HI column density ($N_{\rm HI}$). Here, we explore the transverse three-point correlation ($ζ$) of these Ly$α$ clouds using mock triplet spectra obtained from hydrodynamical simulations at $z \sim 2$ on scales of 1-5 $h^{-1}$cMpc. We find $ζ$ to depend strongly on $N_{\rm HI}$ and scale and weakly on angle ($θ$) of the triplet configuration. We show that the "hierarchical ansatz" is applicable for scales $\ge~ 3h^{-1}$cMpc, and obtain a median reduced three-point correlation (Q) in the range 0.2-0.7. We show, $ζ$ is influenced strongly by the thermal and ionization state of the gas. As found in the case of galaxies, the influence of physical parameters on Q is weaker compared to that of $ζ$. We show difference in $ζ$ and Q between different simulations are minimized if we use appropriate $N_{\rm HI}$ cut-offs corresponding to a given baryon over-density ($Δ$) using the measured $N_{\rm HI}~vs~Δ$ relationship obtained from individual simulations. Additionally, we see the effect of pressure broadening on $ζ$ in a model with artificially boosted heating rates. However, for models with realistic thermal and ionization histories the effect of pressure broadening on $ζ$ is weak and sub-dominant compared to other local effects. We find strong redshift evolution shown by $ζ$, mainly originating from the redshift evolution of thermal and ionization state of the IGM. We discuss the observational requirements for the detection of three-point correlation, specifically, in small intervals of configuration parameters and redshift.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Probing the thermal state of the intergalactic medium at $z>5$ with the transmission spikes in high-resolution Ly$α$ forest spectra

We compare a sample of five high-resolution, high S/N Ly$α$ forest spectra of bright $6 5$ with those obtained from mock absorption spectra from the Sherwood and Sherwood-Relics suites of hydrodynamical simulations of the intergalactic medium (IGM). We use a profile fitting procedure for the inverted transmitted flux, $1-F$, similar to the widely used Voigt profile fitting of the transmitted flux $F$ at lower redshifts, to characterise the transmission spikes that probe predominately underdense regions of the IGM. We are able to reproduce the width and height distributions of the transmission spikes, both with optically thin simulations of the post-reionization Universe using a homogeneous UV background and full radiative transfer simulations of a late reionization model. We find that the width of the fitted components of the simulated transmission spikes is very sensitive to the instantaneous temperature of the reionized IGM. The internal structures of the spikes are more prominant in low temeperature models of the IGM. The width distribution of the observed transmission spikes, which require high spectral resolution ($\leq $ 8 km/s) to be resolved, is reproduced for optically thin simulations with a temperature at mean density of $T_0= (11000 \pm 1600,10500\pm 2100,12000 \pm 2200)$ K at $z= (5.4,5.6,5.8)$. This is weakly dependent on the slope of the temperature-density relation, which is favoured to be moderately steeper than isothermal. In the inhomogeneous, late reionization, full radiative transfer simulations where islands of neutral hydrogen persist to $z\sim5.3$, the width distribution of the observed transmission spikes is consistent with the range of $T_0$ caused by spatial fluctuations in the temperature-density relation.

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arXiv2019

Effect of non-equilibrium ionization on derived physical conditions of the high-$z$ intergalactic medium

Non-equilibrium ionization effects are important in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations but are computationally expensive. We study the effect of non-equilibrium ionization evolution and UV ionizing background (UVB) generated with different quasar spectral energy distribution (SED) on the derived physical conditions of the intergalactic medium (IGM) at $2\leq z \leq 6$ using our post-processing tool 'Code for Ionization and Temperature Evolution' (CITE). CITE produces results matching well with self-consistent simulations more efficiently. The HeII reionization progresses more rapidly in non-equilibrium model as compared to equilibrium models. The redshift of HeII reionization strongly depends on the quasar SED and occurs earlier for UVB models with flatter quasar SEDs. During this epoch the normalization of temperature-density relation, $T_0(z)$, has a maximum while the slope, $γ(z)$, has a minimum, but occurring at different redshifts. The $T_0$ is higher in non-equilibrium models using UVB obtained with flatter quasar SEDs. While our models produce the observed median HeII effective optical depth evolution and its scatter for equilibrium and non-equilibrium considerations, to explain the observed cumulative distributions we may need to consider fluctuating UVB. For a given UVB model, the redshift dependence of the HI photo-ionization rate derived from the observed HI effective optical depth ($τ_{\rm eff,HI}$) for the equilibrium model is different from that for the non-equilibrium model. This may lead to different requirements on the evolution of ionizing emissivities of sources. We show that, in the absence of strong differential pressure smoothing effects, it is possible to recover the $T_0$ and $γ$ realised in non-equilibrium model from the equilibrium models generated by rescaling photo-heating rates while producing the same $τ_{\rm eff,HI}$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

Three- and two-point spatial correlations of intergalactic medium at $z\sim 2$ using projected quasar triplets

We present analysis of two- and three-point correlation functions of Ly$α$ forest (at $2\le z\le 2.5$) using X-Shooter spectra of three background quasar triplets probing transverse separations of 0.5-1.6 pMpc. We present statistics based on transmitted flux and clouds identified using Voigt profile fitting. We show that the observed two-, three-point correlation functions and reduced three-point correlation (i.e Q) are well reproduced by our simulations. We assign probabilities for realising all the observed correlation properties simultaneously using our simulations. Our simulations suggest an increase in correlation amplitudes and Q with increasing $N_{\rm HI}$. We roughly see this trend in the observations too. We identify a concurrent gap of 17$\mathring{A}$ (i.e 14.2 $h^{-1}$cMpc, one of the longest reported) wide in one of the triplets. Such gap is realised only in 14.2% of our simulated sightlines and most of the time belongs to a void in the matter distribution. In the second triplet, we detect DLAs along all three sightlines (with spatial separations 0.64 to 1.6 pMpc) within a narrow redshift interval (i.e $Δz = 0.088$). Detection of a foreground quasar ($\sim$ 1 pMpc from the triplet sightlines) and excess partial Lyman Limit systems around these DLAs suggest that we may be probing a large over-dense region. We also report positive CIV- CIV correlations up to $\sim 500$ $km s^{-1}$ only in the longitudinal direction. Additionally, we conclude a positive CIV-Ly$α$ correlations for higher $N_{\rm HI}$ thresholds up to a scale of $\sim 1000$ $km s^{-1}$ both in transverse and longitudinal directions.

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arXiv2017

Efficient adiabatic hydrodynamical simulations of the high-redshift intergalactic medium

We present a post-processing tool for GADGET-2 adiabatic simulations to model various observed properties of the Ly$α$ forest at $2.5 \leq z \leq 4$ that enables an efficient parameter estimation. In particular, we model the thermal and ionization histories that are not computed self-consistently by default in GADGET-2. We capture the effect of pressure smoothing by running GADGET-2 at an elevated temperature floor and using an appropriate smoothing kernel. We validate our procedure by comparing different statistics derived from our method with those derived using self-consistent simulations with GADGET-3. These statistics are: line of sight density field power spectrum, flux probability distribution function, flux power spectrum, wavelet statistics, curvature statistics, HI column density (${\rm N_{HI}}$) distribution function, linewidth ($b$) distribution and $b$ versus $\log {\rm N_{HI}}$ scatter. For the temperature floor of $10^4$ K and typical signal-to-noise of 25, the results agree well within 20 percent of the self-consistent GADGET-3 simulation. However, this difference is smaller than the expected $1σ$ sample variance for an absorption path length of $\sim 5.35$ at $z=3$. Moreover for a given cosmology, we gain a factor of $\sim N$ in computing time for modelling the intergalactic medium under $N \gg 1$ different thermal histories. In addition, our method allows us to simulate the non-equilibrium evolution of thermal and ionization state of the gas and include heating due to non-standard sources like cosmic rays and high energy $γ$-rays from Blazars.

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arXiv2017

VoIgt profile Parameter Estimation Routine (VIPER): H I photoionization rate at z<0.5

We have developed a parallel code called "VoIgt profile Parameter Estimation Routine (VIPER)" for automatically fitting the H I Ly-$α$ forest seen in the spectra of QSOs. We obtained the H I column density distribution function (CDDF) and line width ($b$) parameter distribution for $z < 0.45$ using spectra of 82 QSOs obtained using Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and VIPER. Consistency of these with the existing measurements in the literature validate our code. By comparing this CDDF with those obtained from hydrodynamical simulation, we constrain the H I photoionization rate ($Γ_{\rm HI}$) at $z < 0.45$ in four redshift bins. The VIPER, together with the Code for Ionization and Temperature Evolution (CITE) we have developed for GADGET-2, allows us to explore parameter space and perform $χ^2$ minimization to obtain $Γ_{\rm HI}$. We notice that the $b$ parameters from the simulations are smaller than what are derived from the observations. We show the observed $b$ parameter distribution and $b$ vs $\log {\rm N_{HI}}$ scatter can be reproduced in simulation by introducing sub-grid scale turbulence. However, it has very little influence on the derived $Γ_{\rm HI}$. The $Γ_{\rm HI}(z)$ obtained here, $(3.9 \pm 0.1) \times 10^{-14} \; (1+z)^{4.98 \pm 0.11} \;{\rm s^{-1}}$, is in good agreement with those derived by us using flux based statistics in the previous paper. These are consistent with the hydrogen ionizing ultra-violet (UV) background being dominated mainly by QSOs without needing any contribution from the non-standard sources of the UV photons.

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arXiv2016

Intergalactic Lyman continuum photon budget in the past 5 billion years

We constrain the H I photoionization rate $(Γ_{\rm HI})$ at $z \lesssim 0.45$ by comparing the flux probability distribution function and power spectrum of the Ly-$α$ forest data along 82 QSO sightlines obtained using Cosmic Origins Spectrograph with models generated from smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations. We have developed a module named "Code for Ionization and Temperature Evolution (CITE)" for calculating the intergalactic medium (IGM) temperature evolution from high to low redshifts by post-processing the GADGET-2 simulation outputs. Our method, that produces results consistent with other simulations, is computationally less expensive thus allowing us to explore a large parameter space. It also allows rigorous estimation of the error covariance matrix for various statistical quantities of interest. We find that the best-fit $Γ_{\rm HI}(z)$ increases with $z$ and follows $(4 \pm 0.1) \times 10^{-14}\:(1+z)^{4.99 \pm 0.12}$ s$^{-1}$. At any given $z$ the typical uncertainties $ΔΓ_{\rm HI} / Γ_{\rm HI}$ are $\sim 25$ per cent which contains not only the statistical errors but also those arising from possible degeneracy with the thermal history of the IGM and cosmological parameters and uncertainties in fitting the QSO continuum. These values of $Γ_{\rm HI}$ favour the scenario where only QSOs contribute to the ionizing background at $z<2$. Our derived $3σ$ upper limit on average escape fraction is $0.008$, consistent with measurements of low-$z$ galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

The redshift evolution of escape fraction of hydrogen ionizing photons from galaxies

Using our cosmological radiative transfer code, we study the implications of the updated QSO emissivity and star formation history for the escape fraction (f_esc) of hydrogen ionizing photons from galaxies. We estimate the f_esc that is required to reionize the Universe and to maintain the ionization state of the intergalactic medium in the post-reionization era. At z>5.5, we show that a constant f_esc of 0.14 to 0.22 is sufficient to reionize the Universe. At z<3.5, consistent with various observations, we find that f_esc can have values from 0 to 0.05. However, a steep rise in f_esc, of at least a factor of ~3, is required between z=3.5 to 5.5. It results from a rapidly decreasing QSO emissivity at z>3 together with a nearly constant measured H I photoionization rates at 3 4. In addition, a simple extrapolation of the contribution of such QSOs to high-z suggests that QSOs alone can reionize the Universe. This implies, at z>3.5, that either the properties of galaxies should evolve rapidly to increase the f_esc or most of the low-mass galaxies should host massive black holes and sustain accretion over a prolonged period. These results motivate a careful investigation of theoretical predictions of these alternate scenarios that can be distinguished using future observations. Moreover, it is also very important to revisit the measurements of H I photoionization rates that are crucial to the analysis presented here.

astro-ph.CO↗