A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
Mu˜ noz, J
8 Pith papers cite this work, alongside 8 external citations. Polarity classification is still indexing.
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abstract
New James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations are revealing the first galaxies to be prolific producers of ionizing photons, which we argue gives rise to a tension between different probes of reionization. Over the last two decades a consensus has emerged where star-forming galaxies are able to generate enough photons to drive reionization, given reasonable values for their number densities, ionizing efficiencies $\xi_{\rm ion}$ (per unit UV luminosity), and escape fractions $f_{\rm esc}$. However, some new JWST observations infer high values of $\xi_{\rm ion}$ during reionization and an enhanced abundance of earlier ($z\gtrsim 9$) galaxies, dramatically increasing the number of ionizing photons produced at high $z$. Simultaneously, recent low-$z$ studies predict significant escape fractions for faint reionization-era galaxies. Put together, we show that the galaxies we have directly observed ($M_{\rm UV} < -15$) not only can drive reionization, but would end it too early. That is, our current galaxy observations, taken at face value, imply an excess of ionizing photons and thus a process of reionization in tension with the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and Lyman-$\alpha$ forest. Considering galaxies down to $M_{\rm UV}\approx -11$, below current observational limits, only worsens this tension. We discuss possible avenues to resolve this photon budget crisis, including systematics in either theory or observations.
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JWST UV luminosity function calibration of reionization history bounds primordial magnetic fields to √<B²> < 0.27 nG (n_B=-2) and < 0.18 nG (n_B=2) at 95% CL by ruling out double reionization at z≈24.
Using lensed JWST data behind Abell S1063, the UVLF at z~6-11 is fit with gradual quadratic turnover, yielding no evidence for turnover to M_UV=-13.5 at z=6, exclusion limits on turnover models, and lower bounds showing faint galaxies contribute >50% of UV luminosity density and ~64% of ionizing pho
DESI DR2 BAO and full-shape data plus CMB yield ∑m_ν < 0.0642 eV (95% CL) under ΛCDM, in 3σ tension with oscillation lower limits, relaxed to <0.163 eV in w0waCDM.
Long gamma-ray bursts imply a higher cosmic star formation rate density at z>6 than galaxy surveys detect, sufficient to drive reionization with moderate ionizing efficiency and escape fraction, implying a large population of undetected faint galaxies.
Marginalizing over generalized slow-roll inflationary templates for the CMB low-power feature raises the 95% upper limit on τ to 0.075 (Planck) or 0.082 (all CMB+BAO), resolving incompatibility with lower bounds.
An extended model with decaying dark matter around equality and w0 dark energy yields H0 ≈ 70 km/s/Mpc from Planck+ACT+DESI data, reducing Hubble tension to ~2.2σ while producing Bayesian evidence comparable to ΛCDM.
citing papers explorer
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A self-consistent analytical model for both the photoionization rate and reionization history
A new analytical formalism self-consistently predicts both the ionized fraction x_i(z) and photoionization rate Gamma_HI(z), achieving percent-level accuracy in x_i and 20-30% accuracy in Gamma_HI versus radiative transfer simulations at z less than or equal to 6.
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JWST Constraints on Primordial Magnetic Fields
JWST UV luminosity function calibration of reionization history bounds primordial magnetic fields to √<B²> < 0.27 nG (n_B=-2) and < 0.18 nG (n_B=2) at 95% CL by ruling out double reionization at z≈24.
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Tilting at the Turnover: Modeling the Faint-End of the UV Luminosity Function Behind Abell s1063 with JWST
Using lensed JWST data behind Abell S1063, the UVLF at z~6-11 is fit with gradual quadratic turnover, yielding no evidence for turnover to M_UV=-13.5 at z=6, exclusion limits on turnover models, and lower bounds showing faint galaxies contribute >50% of UV luminosity density and ~64% of ionizing pho
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Constraints on Neutrino Physics from DESI DR2 BAO and DR1 Full Shape
DESI DR2 BAO and full-shape data plus CMB yield ∑m_ν < 0.0642 eV (95% CL) under ΛCDM, in 3σ tension with oscillation lower limits, relaxed to <0.163 eV in w0waCDM.
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Gamma-ray bursts reveal the history and faint contributors of cosmic reionization
Long gamma-ray bursts imply a higher cosmic star formation rate density at z>6 than galaxy surveys detect, sufficient to drive reionization with moderate ionizing efficiency and escape fraction, implying a large population of undetected faint galaxies.
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Raising the reionization optical depth with inflationary CMB features
Marginalizing over generalized slow-roll inflationary templates for the CMB low-power feature raises the 95% upper limit on τ to 0.075 (Planck) or 0.082 (all CMB+BAO), resolving incompatibility with lower bounds.
-
Early- and Late-Time Modifications to $\Lambda$CDM: Implications for the Hubble Tension
An extended model with decaying dark matter around equality and w0 dark energy yields H0 ≈ 70 km/s/Mpc from Planck+ACT+DESI data, reducing Hubble tension to ~2.2σ while producing Bayesian evidence comparable to ΛCDM.
- A GLIMPSE of the 99%: a census of the faintest galaxies during the epoch of reionization and its implications for galaxy formation models