Modelling the 21 cm Signal From the Epoch of Reionization and Cosmic Dawn

TL;DR

This paper reviews various theoretical models of the 21 cm signal during cosmic dawn and reionization, emphasizing their role in interpreting SKA data to understand early galaxy formation.

Contribution

It compiles and compares different analytical, semi-numerical, and numerical models of reionization tailored for SKA observations.

Findings

Models predict the 21 cm signal's characteristics during reionization.

These models help constrain properties of early galaxies.

Theoretical predictions are essential for interpreting upcoming SKA data.

Abstract

Studying the cosmic dawn and the epoch of reionization through the redshifted 21 cm line are among the major science goals of the SKA1. Their significance lies in the fact that they are closely related to the very first stars in the universe. Interpreting the upcoming data would require detailed modelling of the relevant physical processes. In this article, we focus on the theoretical models of reionization that have been worked out by various groups working in India with the upcoming SKA in mind. These models include purely analytical and semi-numerical calculations as well as fully numerical radiative transfer simulations. The predictions of the 21 cm signal from these models would be useful in constraining the properties of the early galaxies using the SKA data.