Invited review (to be published by RSP), edited by R. Fabbri.
astro-ph/0603149

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Abstract. The study of cosmic reionization has acquired increasing significance over the last few years because of various reasons. On the observational front, we now have good quality data of different types at high redshifts (quasar absorption spectra, radiation backgrounds at different frequencies, cosmic microwave background polarization, Ly emitters and so on). Theoretically, the importance of the reionization lies in its close coupling with the formation of first cosmic structures, and there have been numerous progresses in modelling the process. In this article, we review the current status of our understanding of the physical processes governing the cosmic reionization based on available observational data.

Table of Contents

• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Initial models based on pressure and gravitational confinement
• IGM as a fluctuating density field
• Sources of ionization
• OBSERVATIONAL CONSTRAINTS
• Observations related to the state of the IGM
• Observations related to the sources of reionization
• PHYSICS OF REIONIZATION
• Analytical approaches
• Simulations
• THE FUTURE
• REFERENCES

^* E-mail: chou@sissa.it Back

^† E-mail: ferrara@sissa.it Back