The Cosmic Dawn and the 21-Centimeter Signal
Scientists are focusing on the 21-centimeter signal, a faint radio emission from hydrogen atoms, to understand the —when the first stars and galaxies formed. This signal offers insights into the universe's transition from darkness to light.
The signal, originating just 100 million years after the , is influenced by early stars and black holes, providing a unique window into the universe's infancy and the formation of its first luminous objects.
Advances in Radio Astronomy and Future Prospects
Upcoming projects like REACH and the (SKA) aim to detect and analyze the 21-centimeter signal, offering unprecedented insights into the early universe's star population and their properties.
Researchers have developed a model predicting how the 21-centimeter signal is affected by the masses of the first stars, including the impact of radiation from X-ray binaries, highlighting the signal's potential to reveal details about these primordial stars.