A $\gamma$-ray determination of the Universe's star-formation history

Authors :: Authors, The Fermi-LAT Collaboration. Contact
Ajello, M.
Helgason, K.
Paliya, V.
Finke, J.
Dominguez, A.
Desai, A.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: The light emitted by all galaxies over the history of the Universe produces the extragalactic background light (EBL) at ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths. The EBL is a source of opacity for $\gamma$ rays via photon-photon interactions, leaving an imprint in the spectra of distant $\gamma$-ray sources. We measure this attenuation using {739} active galaxies and one gamma-ray burst detected by the {\it Fermi} Large Area Telescope. This allows us to reconstruct the evolution of the EBL and determine the star-formation history of the Universe over 90\% of cosmic time. Our star-formation history is consistent with independent measurements from galaxy surveys, peaking at redshift $z\sim2$. Upper limits of the EBL at the epoch of re-ionization suggest a turnover in the abundance of faint galaxies at $z\sim 6$.<br />Comment: Published on Science. This is the authors' version of the manuscript