Fisher Matrix-based Predictions for Measuring the z = 3.35 Binned 21-cm Power Spectrum using the Ooty Wide Field Array (OWFA)
Abstract
We use the Fisher matrix formalism to predict the prospects of measuring the redshifted 21-cm power spectrum in different k-bins using observations with the upcoming Ooty Wide Field Array (OWFA) which will operate at 326.5 MHz. This corresponds to neutral hydrogen (HI) at z = 3.35, and a measurement of the 21-cm power spectrum provides a unique method to probe the large-scale structures at this redshift. Our analysis indicates that a 5σ detection of the binned power spectrum is possible in the k range 0.05 ≤ k ≤ 0.3 Mpc‑1 with 1000 hours of observation. We find that the signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) peaks in the k range 0.1‑0.2 Mpc‑1 where a 10σ detection is possible with 2000 hours of observations. Our analysis also indicates that it is not very advantageous to observe beyond 1000 h in a single field-of-view as the SNR increases rather slowly beyond this in many of the small k-bins. The entire analysis reported here assumes that the foregrounds have been completely removed.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy
- Pub Date:
- March 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s12036-017-9432-2
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1703.00634
- Bibcode:
- 2017JApA...38...14S
- Keywords:
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- Cosmology: large scale structure of the Universe;
- intergalactic medium;
- diffuse radiation.;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- To appear in the Special Section of the JAA on the Ooty Wide Field Array