Searching for Star Formation beyond Reionization

The goal of searching back in cosmic time to find star formation during theepoch of reionization will soon be within reach. We assess the detectability ofhigh-redshift galaxies by combining cosmological hydrodynamic simulations ofgalaxy formation, stellar evolution models appropriate for the firstgenerations of stars, and estimates of the efficiency for Lyman alpha to escapefrom forming galaxies into the intergalactic medium. Our simulated observationsshow that Lyman alpha emission at z ~ 8 may be observable in the near-infraredwith 8-meter class telescopes and present-day technology. Not only is thedetection of early star-forming objects vital to understanding the underlyingcause of the reionization of the universe, but the timely discovery of a z > 7star-forming population -- or even an interesting upper limit on the emergentflux from these objects -- will have implications for the design of the nextgeneration of ground- and space-based facilities.Comment: 4 pages, submitted to ApJ Letter