# Long troughs in the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest below redshift 6 due to islands of neutral hydrogen

## TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution simulations to explain long Lyman-alpha forest troughs at redshift 5.5 as caused by neutral hydrogen islands, aligning with observed Ly$eta$ spikes and Ly$ extalpha$ emitter deficits.

## Contribution

It demonstrates that late reionization scenarios can produce observed long troughs through neutral hydrogen islands, supported by detailed cosmological simulations.

## Key findings

- Simulations reproduce observed long troughs at z~5.5.
- Neutral hydrogen islands cause the troughs and allow Ly$eta$ transmission.
- A deficit of Ly$ extalpha$ emitters is consistent with observations.

## Abstract

A long (110 cMpc/$h$) and deep absorption trough in the Ly$\alpha$ forest has been observed extending down to redshift 5.5 in the spectrum of ULAS J0148+0600. Although no Ly$\alpha$ transmission is detected, Ly$\beta$ spikes are present which has led to claims that the gas along this trough must be ionized. Using high resolution cosmological radiative transfer simulations in large volumes, we show that in a scenario where reionization ends late ($z \sim 5.2$), our simulations can reproduce troughs as long as observed. In this model, we find that the troughs are caused by islands of neutral hydrogen. Small ionized holes within the neutral islands allow for the transmission of Ly$\beta$. We have also modelled the Ly$\alpha$ emitter population around the simulated troughs, and show that there is a deficit of Ly$\alpha$ emitters close to the trough as is observed.