Further corrections to the theory of cosmological recombination

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168584· OSTI ID:7040921

Krolik, J H ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)

Krolik (1989) pointed out that frequency redistribution due to scattering is more important than cosmological expansion in determining the Ly-alpha frequency profile during cosmological recombination, and that its effects substantially modify the rate of recombination. Although the first statement is true, the second statement is not: a basic symmetry of photon scattering leads to identical cancellations which almost completely erase the effects of both coherent and incoherent scattering. Only a small correction due to atomic recoil alters the line profile from the prediction of pure cosmological expansion, so that the pace of cosmological recombination can be well approximated by ignoring Ly-alpha scattering. 6 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7040921
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 353; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
CORRECTIONS
COSMOLOGY
DENSITY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EXPANSION
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
LYMAN LINES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOMBINATION
SCATTERING
UNIVERSE