Research project Explorations of the Epoch of Reionization

Much remains unclear about how events developed during this time and this project is investigating how we can learn more for example from observations of the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen using for example LOFAR and the future Square Kilometre Array.

The period of is of fundamental importance for understanding our Universe as the oldest stars, the first black holes and the `seeds' of modern day galaxies formed during this era. However, this entire period remains poorly understood. Basic facts such as when it started, when it ended and what were sources of ionizing photons, remain unknown.
The key to a better exploration is the 21cm signal produced by neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium. The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) EoR collaboration of which I am a core member is attempting to detect this signal in a statistical sense. The much more powerful Square Kilometre Array (SKA https://skao.int ), currently under construction, will revolutionize the field by producing actual images of the distribution of the signal.
In this project we will interpret the next LOFAR-EoR data releases using the new inference framework we have been developing. We are also participating in the preparations for SKA and  lastly we will investigate the poorly understood final stages of reionization using world leading computer simulations.