The 21-cm hyperfine line of neutral hydrogen is set to revolutionize studies of the first billion years, spanning the cosmic dawn of the first stars and eventual reionization of our Universe. I will discuss the potential of this probe in learning about the unknown astrophysics of the first galaxies as well as physical cosmology. Current upper limits on the cosmic 21-cm power spectrum already provide new insights into the heating of the intergalactic medium, and the X-ray sources in the first galaxies. I will discuss the upcoming steps, including the main challenges, that will eventually lead to the Nobel prize-worthy 3D map of half of our observable Universe with the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) telescope.
19/03/2025
Speaker: Prof. Andrei Mesinger (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa)
Date: 19/03/2025 at 11:30 AM.
Duration (approximate): 45 minutes + 15 minutes discussion.
Location: AULA OVEST of the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania + remote.
Link for the remote audience: https://meet.google.com/wvf-uwxo-oyj