Speaker
Description
OI absorbers are critical probes of metal enrichment in the intergalactic medium (IGM) during the epoch of reionization (EoR). We present a detailed comparison of OI absorbers in high-resolution cosmological simulations and recent observational datasets, focusing on their ability to trace the spatial distribution and physical conditions of metals in the IGM. This analysis highlights the role of feedback processes, such as galactic winds and radiation from early star-forming galaxies, in redistributing metals and shaping the abundance and distribution of neutral oxygen. Discrepancies between simulated and observed OI column density distributions reveal the challenges of accurately modeling small-scale metal transport and ionization conditions during the EoR. By reconciling simulations with observations, we constrain the mechanisms driving early metal enrichment and the interplay between star formation and the surrounding IGM.
