Water Formation During the Epoch of First Metal Enrichment

TL;DR

This paper shows that significant amounts of water vapor could have existed in early, low-metallicity galaxies, indicating water formation was possible during the epoch of initial metal enrichment in the universe.

Contribution

It introduces the possibility of water vapor presence in extremely low-metallicity, high-redshift galaxies during early metal enrichment.

Findings

High water vapor abundances in low-metallicity gas.

Water formation feasible during early galaxy evolution.

Implications for early universe chemistry.

Abstract

We demonstrate that high abundances of water vapor could have existed in extremely low metallicity ($10^{-3}$ solar) partially shielded gas, during the epoch of first metal enrichment of the interstellar medium of galaxies at high redshifts.