Constraints on Fundamental Cosmological Parameters with Upcoming Epoch of Reionization Observations

The first generation of epoch of reionization experiments have the potential to characterize the processes and history of reionization for redshifts 6 < z < 12 by observing the power spectrum of the redshifted 21 cm radiation. These power spectrum observations could also contribute to our knowledge of the underlying cosmology, particularly at redshifts before the effects of reionization strongly dominate the cosmic radio background. In this paper we explore the cosmological constraints of 21 cm power spectrum observations with the Mileura Widefield Array (MWA) and its potential successor, the MWA5000, assuming a flat ΛCDM cosmology and that reionization occurs below a redshift of z = 8. In addition to a standard set of cosmological parameters, we include two nuisance parameters related to the systematics and foregrounds faced by radio observations. While the MWA observations cannot constrain the underlying cosmology, MWA5000 could provide useful constraints, in particular on the slope of the inflationary power spectrum, ns, and the running of the spectral index, αs. Subject headings: Cosmology: Early Universe, Galaxies: Intergalactic Medium, Radio Lines: General, Techniques: Interferometric