---
_id: '17715'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: At redshifts beyond z>6, as the mean fraction of neutral hydrogen x_HI in
    the intergalactic medium (IGM) increases, the line flux of Lyman alpha (Lya) emitters
    can be significantly suppressed, which can result in a decrease in the observed
    number of emitters at a given Lya flux. However, cosmological HII regions surrounding
    the Lya emitting galaxies alleviate these effects. We use simple models of the
    Lya line suppression that incorporate the presence of HII regions to predict the
    overall effect of the Lya absorption on the Lya luminosity function. We find,
    in agreement with other recent studies, that unless ionizing sources are unusually
    strongly clustered, a fully neutral IGM may be inconsistent with the large abundance
    of confirmed z=6.5 Lya emitters. However, the presence of local HII regions prohibits
    placing a tight constraint on the mean neutral fraction. We find x_HI < 0.25;
    the presence of strong winds and/or the clustering of ionizing sources would further
    weaken this constraint. We conclude that the evolution of the Lya LF is consistent
    with reionization occurring near this redshift. Finally, we suggest that a measurement
    of observed Lya line width as a function of the Lya luminosity, in a future, larger
    sample of Lya emitters, may serve as a robust diagnostic of the neutral fraction
    in the IGM.
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Zoltán
  full_name: Haiman, Zoltán
  id: 7c006e8c-cc0d-11ee-8322-cb904ef76f36
  last_name: Haiman
- first_name: Renyue
  full_name: Cen, Renyue
  last_name: Cen
citation:
  ama: Haiman Z, Cen R. Constraining reionization with the evolution of the luminosity
    function of Lyα emitting galaxies. <i>The Astrophysical Journal</i>. 2005;623(2):627-631.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/428645">10.1086/428645</a>
  apa: Haiman, Z., &#38; Cen, R. (2005). Constraining reionization with the evolution
    of the luminosity function of Lyα emitting galaxies. <i>The Astrophysical Journal</i>.
    American Astronomical Society. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/428645">https://doi.org/10.1086/428645</a>
  chicago: Haiman, Zoltán, and Renyue Cen. “Constraining Reionization with the Evolution
    of the Luminosity Function of Lyα Emitting Galaxies.” <i>The Astrophysical Journal</i>.
    American Astronomical Society, 2005. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/428645">https://doi.org/10.1086/428645</a>.
  ieee: Z. Haiman and R. Cen, “Constraining reionization with the evolution of the
    luminosity function of Lyα emitting galaxies,” <i>The Astrophysical Journal</i>,
    vol. 623, no. 2. American Astronomical Society, pp. 627–631, 2005.
  ista: Haiman Z, Cen R. 2005. Constraining reionization with the evolution of the
    luminosity function of Lyα emitting galaxies. The Astrophysical Journal. 623(2),
    627–631.
  mla: Haiman, Zoltán, and Renyue Cen. “Constraining Reionization with the Evolution
    of the Luminosity Function of Lyα Emitting Galaxies.” <i>The Astrophysical Journal</i>,
    vol. 623, no. 2, American Astronomical Society, 2005, pp. 627–31, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/428645">10.1086/428645</a>.
  short: Z. Haiman, R. Cen, The Astrophysical Journal 623 (2005) 627–631.
date_created: 2024-09-06T08:59:08Z
date_published: 2005-04-20T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2024-09-25T12:55:58Z
day: '20'
doi: 10.1086/428645
extern: '1'
intvolume: '       623'
issue: '2'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://doi.org/10.1086/428645
month: '04'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
page: 627-631
publication: The Astrophysical Journal
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0004-637X
  - 1538-4357
publication_status: published
publisher: American Astronomical Society
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Constraining reionization with the evolution of the luminosity function of
  Lyα emitting galaxies
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 623
year: '2005'
...