First constraints on Helium $^{+}{\rm He}^3$ evolution in $z=3-4$ using the 8.67GHz hyperfine transition

TL;DR

This study provides the first observational constraints on the HeII hyperfine transition signal at redshifts 3 to 4 using archival ATCA data, setting upper limits on brightness temperature fluctuations during Helium reionization.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel method to constrain the HeII hyperfine signal at high redshift using interferometric data, paving the way for future more sensitive measurements.

Findings

Upper limits of 557μK at z=2.91 and 755μK at z=4.14 on 30 arcmin scales.

Measured a temperature of 489μK at z=2.91.

Proof of principle for future experiments targeting μK-level signals.

Abstract

We present the first constraints on the cross-correlation power spectrum of HeII ($^{+}{\rm He}^3$) signal strength using the redshifted 8.67GHz hyperfine transition between $z=2.9$ and $z=4.1$ and with interferometric data obtained from the public archive of the Australia Telescope Compact Array. 210 hours of observations of the primary calibrator source B1934-638 were extracted from data obtained with the telescope from 2014--2021, and coherently combined in a power spectrum pipeline to measure the HeII power across a range of spatial scales, and at three redshifts that span the period of Helium reionization. Our best limit places the brightness temperature fluctuation to be less than 557$\mu$K on spatial scales of 30 arcmin at $z=2.91$, and less than 755$\mu$K on scales of 30 arcmin at $z=4.14$ (2-sigma noise-limited). We measure a temperature of 489$\mu$K at $z=2.91$. ATCA's few antennas and persistent remaining RFI in the data prevent deeper integrations improving the results. This work is a proof of principle to demonstrate how this type of experiment can be undertaken to reach the 0.01--1$\mu$K level expected for the Helium signal at $z \sim 4$.