The basic processes of the formation of the first stars in the primordial Universe are outlined and the implications for cosmological structure formation discussed. By employing theoretical and numerical models of cosmic structure evolution embedded within N-body hydrodynamical chemistry simulations, predictions for the production of the first heavy elements in the Universe are given. These results are then compared against measured data of UV luminosities and metal abundances in different kinds of observations in order to draw conclusions on the chemical and thermal state of the cosmic medium at different cosmological epochs.
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