Session W1: Plenary Session III

8:30 AM–10:18 AM, Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront - Grand 4-5

Sponsoring Unit: APS
Chair: Natalie Roe, Berkeley National Laboratory

Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.APR.W1.1

Abstract: W1.00001 : The 21cm Background: A Probe of Reionization and the Dark Ages

8:30 AM–9:06 AM

Preview Abstract

Author:

  Jacqueline N. Hewitt
    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Observations of the redshifted 21cm line of neutral hydrogen have the potential to probe the processes of structure formation and reionization in a unique way, complementing other techniques in cosmology. The high redshift means that observations have to be done at frequencies of 200 MHz and below, a part of the spectrum plagued by radio frequency interference. I will review the status of the first-generation experiments that currently are under construction. Even modest collecting areas should be capable of detecting the power spectrum of fluctuations and the largest ``bubbles'' around quasars. Second generation experiments could in principle map structures on a wide range of spatial scales and, through sensitive power spectrum measurements, serve as a new probe of cosmological models and of dark matter.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.APR.W1.1