Epoch of Reionization

The first of the working groups addressing the history of our universe, looking at the furthest cosmological distances, redshift range ~6 to ~25.

Epoch of Reionization Working Group Introduction

When did the first generations of galaxies form? What were their properties? How did they interact with each other? What is the structure of the intergalactic medium during the first billion years? What is the thermal and ionization history of the baryons?

The footprint of these processes is imprinted in the Hydrogen gas the major constituent of the intergalactic medium) and can be probed by observations of its hyperfine spectral line transition (occurring at the rest frequency of 21-cm). We plan to use the SKA to carry out the deepest observations of the diffuse neutral Hydrogen gas to trace the evolution of cosmic structure in the 6 < z < 30 range, unveiling the epoch when the very first luminous structure were born and how their growth ionized the intergalactic medium.

SWG Banner - EoR

EoR Working Group Documentation

The presentations from the Science Assessment Workshop can be found here.

The EoR presentations from the 2014 SKA Science Meeting can be found here.

The EoR banner is here

Related 2015 “Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters

  • See appropriate section here

Related 2004 “Science with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters

  • “Probing the dark ages with the Square Kilometre Array” Carilli et al.
  • “Observations of HI 21-cm absorption by the neutral IGM during the epoch of re-ionization with the Square Kilometre Array” Carilli et al.

Working Group Membership

Members of the the Epoch of Reionization Working group can be found here

Please contact the co-chairs if you are interested in joining the group.

The current co-chairs are:

Membership details can be found here

Previous Chairs

  • Gianni Bernardi 2017-2019
  • Garrelt Mellema 2017-2019
  • Jonathan Pritchard 2015-2017
  • Leon Koopmans 2013-2015
Last modified on 14 November 2022