Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-11-21
Rev.Mod.Phys.81:1405,2009
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
69 pages; accepted version to appear in Reviews of Modern Physics; text and equation typos corrected; all figures included
Scientific paper
10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1405
Intergalactic space is filled with a pervasive medium of ionized gas, the Intergalactic Medium (IGM). A residual neutral fraction is detected in the spectra of Quasi-Stellar Objects at both low and high redshifts, revealing a highly fluctuating medium with temperatures characteristic of photoionized gas. The statistics of the fluctuations are well-reproduced by numerical gravity-hydrodynamics simulations within the context of standard cosmological structure formation scenarios. As such, the study of the IGM offers an opportunity to probe the nature of the primordial density fluctuations on scales unavailable to other methods. The simulations also suggest the IGM is the dominant reservoir of baryons produced by the Big Bang, and so the principal source of the matter from which galaxies formed. The detection of metal systems within the IGM shows that it was enriched by evolved stars early in its history, demonstrating an intimate connection between galaxy formation and the IGM. The author presents a comprehensive review of the current understanding of the structure and physical properties of the IGM and its relation to galaxies, concluding with comments on prospects for furthering the study of the IGM using future ground-based facilities and space-based experiments.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Physics of the Intergalactic Medium does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Physics of the Intergalactic Medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Physics of the Intergalactic Medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-414457