%0 Generic %1 christenson2021constraints %A Christenson, Holly M. %A Becker, George D. %A Furlanetto, Steven R. %A Davies, Frederick B. %A Malkan, Matthew A. %A Zhu, Yongda %A Boera, Elisa %A Trapp, Adam %D 2021 %K library %T Constraints on the End of Reionization from the Density Fields Surrounding Two Highly Opaque Quasar Sightlines %U http://arxiv.org/abs/2109.13170 %X The observed large-scale scatter in Lyman $\alpha$ opacity of the intergalactic medium at $z<6$ implies large fluctuations in the neutral hydrogen fraction that are unexpected long after reionization has ended. A number of models have emerged to explain these fluctuations that make testable predictions for the relationship between Ly$\alpha$ opacity and density. We present selections of $z=5.7$ Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the fields surrounding two highly opaque quasar sightlines with long Ly$\alpha$ troughs. The fields lie towards the $z=6.0$ quasar ULAS J0148+0600, for which we re-analyze previously published results using improved photometric selection, and towards the $z=6.15$ quasar SDSS J1250+3130, for which results are presented here for the first time. In both fields, we report a deficit of LAEs within 20 $h^-1$ Mpc of the quasar. The association of highly opaque sightlines with galaxy underdensities in these two fields is consistent with models in which the scatter in Ly$\alpha$ opacity is driven by large-scale fluctuations in the ionizing UV background, or by an ultra-late reionization that has not yet concluded at $z=5.7$.

@misc{christenson2021constraints, abstract = {The observed large-scale scatter in Lyman $\alpha$ opacity of the intergalactic medium at $z<6$ implies large fluctuations in the neutral hydrogen fraction that are unexpected long after reionization has ended. A number of models have emerged to explain these fluctuations that make testable predictions for the relationship between Ly$\alpha$ opacity and density. We present selections of $z=5.7$ Ly$\alpha$-emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the fields surrounding two highly opaque quasar sightlines with long Ly$\alpha$ troughs. The fields lie towards the $z=6.0$ quasar ULAS J0148+0600, for which we re-analyze previously published results using improved photometric selection, and towards the $z=6.15$ quasar SDSS J1250+3130, for which results are presented here for the first time. In both fields, we report a deficit of LAEs within 20 $h^{-1}$ Mpc of the quasar. The association of highly opaque sightlines with galaxy underdensities in these two fields is consistent with models in which the scatter in Ly$\alpha$ opacity is driven by large-scale fluctuations in the ionizing UV background, or by an ultra-late reionization that has not yet concluded at $z=5.7$.}, added-at = {2021-09-28T07:31:12.000+0200}, author = {Christenson, Holly M. and Becker, George D. and Furlanetto, Steven R. and Davies, Frederick B. and Malkan, Matthew A. and Zhu, Yongda and Boera, Elisa and Trapp, Adam}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/26228163c9cec6dcd46d3e689e26f804b/gpkulkarni}, description = {Constraints on the End of Reionization from the Density Fields Surrounding Two Highly Opaque Quasar Sightlines}, interhash = {7695bdb02bef0c1a161e5e8436e78c44}, intrahash = {6228163c9cec6dcd46d3e689e26f804b}, keywords = {library}, note = {cite arxiv:2109.13170Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 17 pages, 13 figures}, timestamp = {2021-09-28T07:31:12.000+0200}, title = {Constraints on the End of Reionization from the Density Fields Surrounding Two Highly Opaque Quasar Sightlines}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2109.13170}, year = 2021 }