Abstract
We discuss the physical processes that govern the formation of the first stars. These so-called Population III stars are predicted to be predominantly very massive, and to have contributed significantly to the early reionization of the IGM. Such an early reionization epoch is inferred from the recent measurement of the Thomson optical depth by the WMAP satellite. We address the importance of heavy elements in bringing about the transition from an early star formation mode dominated by massive stars, to the familiar mode dominated by low mass stars, at later times, and present possible observational probes.
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Bromm, V., Loeb, A. (1997). The First Stars and the Epoch of Reionization. In: Pfalzner, S., Kramer, C., Straubmeier, C., Heithausen, A. (eds) The Dense Interstellar Medium in Galaxies. Springer Proceedings in Physics, vol 91. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18902-9_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18902-9_1
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