The optimal redshift for detecting ionized bubbles in HI 21-cm maps

Abstract

The detection of individual ionized bubbles in HI 21-cm maps is one of the most promising, direct probes of the epoch of reionization (EoR). At least 1000 h of observation would be required for such a detection with either the currently functioning Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) or the upcoming Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). Considering the large investment for telescope time, it is essential to identify the 'optimal redshift' where the prospects of a detection are most favourable. We find that the optimal redshift is determined by a combination of instrument dependent factors and the evolution of the neutral fraction xHI. We find that the redshift range 8.1 ± 1.1 and 9.8 ± 1 are optimum for detecting ionized bubbles with the GMRT and MWA, respectively. The prospects of a detection, we find, are more favourable in a scenario with late reionization with xHI ≈ 0.5 at z ≈ 7.5 as compared to an early reionization model where xHI ≈ 0.5 at z ≈ 10. In the late reionization scenario, for both instruments a 3σ detection is possible for bubbles of comoving radius Rb > 30 Mpc with 1000 h of observation. Future observations will either lead to the detection of ionized bubbles, or in the event of non-detection, lead to constraints on the product xHI Rbγ for the observational volume, where γ = 1.5 and 2 for GMRT and MWA, respectively. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 RAS.