"Uncovering the History of the Universe with 21 cm Cosmology"

Colloquium abstract:
Cosmological models of the universe’s history are informed by
observations, namely of the Cosmic Microwave Background and of distant
galaxies. However, these leave much of the volume of the observable
universe unexplored, meaning that key epochs in cosmic history are
unconstrained. In particular, we have very little observational
evidence of the Cosmic Dawn, when stars and galaxies first appeared,
and the Epoch of Reionization, when early stars and galaxies ionized
the surrounding intergalactic medium. In this talk, I will discuss how
low-frequency radio telescopes can fill in these gaps. Using the 21 cm
emission line from neutral hydrogen, these telescopes can map enormous
volumes of the universe, answering questions about the origins and
evolution of our modern universe. I will present recent progress
constraining models of early galaxy formation and discuss next steps
for achieving the potential of 21 cm cosmology.