Exploring reionisation and high-z galaxy observables with recent multi-redshift MWA upper limits on the 21-cm signal

Understand

We use the latest multi-redshift ($z=6.5-8.7$) upper limits on the 21-cm signal from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) to explore astrophysical models which are inconsistent with the data.

• These upper limits are achieved using 298 h of carefully excised data over four observing seasons.
• To explore these upper limits in the context of reionisation astrophysics, we use 21CMMC.
• We then connect the disfavoured regions of parameter space to existing observational constraints on reionisation such as high-$z$ galaxy ultra-violet (UV) luminosity functions, background UV photoionisation rate, intergalactic medium (IGM) neutral fraction, the electron scattering optical depth and the soft-band X-ray emissivity.