Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: We present JWST/NIRSpec prism spectroscopy of MACS0647−JD, a triply lensed z ∼ 11 candidate discovered in Hubble Space Telescope imaging and spatially resolved by JWST imaging into two components, A and B. Spectroscopy of component A yields a spectroscopic redshift z = 10.17 based on seven detected emission lines: C III] λλ1907, 1909, [O II] λ3727, [Ne III] λ3869, [Ne III] λ3968, Hδ λ4101, Hγ λ4340, and [O III] λ4363. These are the second-most distant detections of these emission lines to date, in a galaxy observed just 460 million years after the Big Bang. Based on observed and extrapolated line flux ratios we derive a gas-phase metallicity 12 + log (O/H) ∼ 7.5–8.0, or Z ∼ (0.06–0.2) Ze, ionization parameter log(U) = −1.9 ± 0.2, and an ionizing photon production efficiency log 25.2 ± 0.2 erg-1 Hz. The spectrum has a softened Lyα break, evidence for a strong Lyα damping wing. The Lyα damping wing also suppresses the F150W photometry, explaining the slightly overestimated photometric redshift z = 10.6 ± 0.3. MACS0647−JD has a stellar mass log(M/Me) = 8.1 ± 0.3, including ∼6 × 10 7 Me in component A, most of which formed recently (within ∼20 Myr) with a star formation rate ∼ 2 ± 1 Me yr−1 , all within an effective radius 70 ± 24 pc. Spectroscopy of a fainter companion galaxy C separated by a distance of ∼ 3 kpc reveals a Lyman break consistent with z ∼ 10.17. MACS0647−JD is likely the most distant galaxy merger known.
Authors: Hsiao, Yu-Yang Tiger, Abdurro'uf,, Coe, Dan, Larson, Rebecca L., Jung, Intae, Bradač, Maruša
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Space Telescope Science Institute, Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, National Research Foundation, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Swedish National Space Agency, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca, Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS, Vetenskapsrådet, Goddard Space Flight Center
Awards: G103270039, G112473895, G1338664626, G1712102273, Exploring Cosmic Dawn with James Webb Space Telescope, G256731684, G3248903251, Direct detection of the first stars, G5568641063, ODIN: a framework to shed light on Dark Matter and the era of cosmic dawn, Zooming into Dark Matter and proto-galaxies with massive lensing clusters, G7648889913, NSF-BSF: Galaxies in the Reionization Era, G785121043, Star formation within evolving galaxies: the revolution of the James Webb Space Telescope, G8067020961, G8380842850, G8552695075
OpenAlex ID: W6992036065
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