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| Paper: |
Active Galactic Nuclei Feedback Effects on the Intergalactic Medium |
| Monograph: |
10, HWO25 Proceedings Part I: Community Science Case Development Documents |
| Page: |
267 |
| Authors: |
Megan T. Tillman; Joseph N. Burchett; Blakesley Burkhart; Vikram Khaire; Sanchayeeta Borthakur |
| DOI: |
10.26624/MDXD8263 |
| Abstract: |
Recent studies have focused on the low-z Lyman-α (Lyα) forest as a potential constraint on galactic
feedback, as different AGN and stellar feedback models in hydrodynamic simulations produce varying intergalactic medium (IGM) statistics. However, existing low-z Lyα forest data provide insufficient observational
constraints for simulations due to their low precision and the lack of observations from z∼0.4 to 1.8.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory, equipped with an ultraviolet (FUV / NUV) spectrograph, could provide
transformative data for this science by increasing both observations in the redshift range where current data
are lacking and the precision of the Lyα forest observational data at z≤0.4. This spectrograph should
cover the wavelengths 1215−3402 Å and have a spectral resolution of R=30,000–40,000. Distinguishing
between certain active-galactic nuclei feedback models requires high precision (∼5−10%) measurements
of the Lyα forest 1D transmitted flux power spectrum for z ≤1.8. This requires ∼830 QSO spectra with
S/N ≥ 5–25 depending on redshift. Furthermore, these data would enable a comprehensive study on the
thermal state of the IGM across time, and address the tension between the observed and simulated Lyαforest
b-value distribution. Finally, the collected data will contain thousands of absorption lines in the FUV / NUV
region that would enable significant advances in a multitude of IGM and CGM studies.
This article is an
adaptation of a science case document developed for HWO’s IGM & CGM Steering Committee and published
in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (Tillman et al. 2025 JATIS). |
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