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After the recombination epoch neutral hydrogen was formed in the universe. Since neutral hydrogen absorbs radiation in the Lyman-alpha transition, a dark epoch begun, which was finished with the reionization of hydrogen due to radiation sources.
The electromagnetic spectrum from quasars, which are at enough spatio-temporal distance (z > 6 ?) should show specific Lyman-alpha absobtion lines (inside the Ly-a forest) due to neutral hydrogen. This is called the Gunn-Peterson effect.
Questions:
1. is my understanding correct?
2. is the Gunn Peterson effect only a part of the the Ly-a forest, what is the differencie or how can this effect be registered…?
Thanks.
The electromagnetic spectrum from quasars, which are at enough spatio-temporal distance (z > 6 ?) should show specific Lyman-alpha absobtion lines (inside the Ly-a forest) due to neutral hydrogen. This is called the Gunn-Peterson effect.
Questions:
1. is my understanding correct?
2. is the Gunn Peterson effect only a part of the the Ly-a forest, what is the differencie or how can this effect be registered…?
Thanks.