The end of the Dark Ages: Probing the Reionization of the Universe With HST and JWST

Abstract

Limiting the number of model-dependent assumptions to a minimum, we discuss the detectability of the sources responsible for reionization with existing and planned telescopes. We conclude that if reionization sources are UV-efficient, minimum luminosity sources, then it may be difficult to detect them before the advent of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The best approach before the launch of JWST may be either to exploit gravitational lensing by clusters of galaxies, or to search for strong Ly-α sources by means of narrow-band excess techniques or slitless grism spectroscopy.