21-cm fluctuations from primordial magnetic fields

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Cruz, Hector Afonso G., Adi, Tal, Flitter, Jordan, Kamionkowski, Marc, Kovetz, Ely D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Cruz, Hector Afonso G.
Adi, Tal
Flitter, Jordan
Kamionkowski, Marc
Kovetz, Ely D.
author_facet Cruz, Hector Afonso G.
Adi, Tal
Flitter, Jordan
Kamionkowski, Marc
Kovetz, Ely D.
contents The fluid forces associated with primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) generate small-scale fluctuations in the primordial density field, which add to the $\mathrm{ΛCDM}$ linear matter power spectrum on small scales. These enhanced small-scale fluctuations lead to earlier formation of galactic halos and stars and thus affect cosmic reionization. We study the consequences of these effects on 21 cm observables using the semi-numerical code 21cmFAST v3.1.3. We find the excess small-scale structure generates strong stellar radiation backgrounds in the early Universe, resulting in altered 21 cm global signals and power spectra commensurate with earlier reionization. We restrict the allowed PMF models using the CMB optical depth to reionization. Lastly, we probe parameter degeneracies and forecast experimental sensitivities with an information matrix analysis subject to the CMB optical depth bound. Our forecasts show that interferometers like HERA are sensitive to PMFs of order $\sim \mathrm{pG}$, nearly an order of magnitude stronger than existing and next-generation experiments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2308_04483
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle 21-cm fluctuations from primordial magnetic fields
Cruz, Hector Afonso G.
Adi, Tal
Flitter, Jordan
Kamionkowski, Marc
Kovetz, Ely D.
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
The fluid forces associated with primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) generate small-scale fluctuations in the primordial density field, which add to the $\mathrm{ΛCDM}$ linear matter power spectrum on small scales. These enhanced small-scale fluctuations lead to earlier formation of galactic halos and stars and thus affect cosmic reionization. We study the consequences of these effects on 21 cm observables using the semi-numerical code 21cmFAST v3.1.3. We find the excess small-scale structure generates strong stellar radiation backgrounds in the early Universe, resulting in altered 21 cm global signals and power spectra commensurate with earlier reionization. We restrict the allowed PMF models using the CMB optical depth to reionization. Lastly, we probe parameter degeneracies and forecast experimental sensitivities with an information matrix analysis subject to the CMB optical depth bound. Our forecasts show that interferometers like HERA are sensitive to PMFs of order $\sim \mathrm{pG}$, nearly an order of magnitude stronger than existing and next-generation experiments.
title 21-cm fluctuations from primordial magnetic fields
topic Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.04483