Lyman continuum photons

Lyman continuum photons are like superheroes that have the power to knock electrons out of their atoms. Imagine atoms like little planets with electrons orbiting around them. Normally, these electrons are happy staying close to their atoms. But when a superhero (a lyman continuum photon) comes along and hits an electron with enough energy, the electron gets knocked out of orbit and goes flying away.

These lyman continuum photons are really important in astronomy because they give us clues about the early universe. When the universe was first formed, it was filled with hydrogen gas. As stars and galaxies started to form, they started producing these lyman continuum photons. Over time, these photons ionized the hydrogen gas, which means they kicked enough electrons out of their atoms that the gas became positively charged. This helped the universe transition from a neutral gas to a universe full of stars and galaxies.

So, in summary, lyman continuum photons are powerful superheroes that can knock electrons out of their atoms, and they played a crucial role in the formation of stars and galaxies in the early universe.