Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present a statistical census of the Na D–traced neutral interstellar medium (ISM) and outflows in 309 galaxies at 0.6 < z < 4 using JWST/NIRSpec medium-resolution spectroscopy from the SMILES, JADES, Blue Jay, and Aurora surveys. After subtracting the stellar continuum, we model Na D λλ 5890, 5896 and identify 73 Na D ISM absorptions, including 63 robust (4 in broad-line active galactic nuclei, AGN) and 10 tentative detections. Of the robust detections, 88% are found in massive galaxies ( log ( M * / M ⊙ ) > 10 ), and 12% are in lower-mass systems. At high mass, ISM absorption is seen in both star-forming and quiescent galaxies, whereas in lower-mass systems, it is observed only in star-forming galaxies. In massive quiescent galaxies, Na D detectability appears linked to star formation history: it is preferentially detected in older systems with larger 4000 Å breaks and younger, rapidly quenching galaxies with strong Balmer absorption H δ A . We identify Na D outflows in 25 galaxies, revealing a possible dichotomy in driving mechanisms between star-forming and quiescent galaxies. In star-forming galaxies, outflow properties correlate with star formation properties, consistent with a star-formation-driven origin. In quiescent galaxies, however, outflows are not associated with residual star formation and often require more energy than such star formation can provide. Together with the high AGN fraction among outflow-detected quiescent galaxies, this suggests that AGN dominate Na D–traced neutral outflows in cosmic noon quiescent systems. We further identify four quiescent galaxies with possible AGN fossil outflows, suggesting that AGN-driven outflows can persist beyond the active accretion phase and may help maintain quiescence.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, University of Arizona, Villum Fonden, Space Telescope Science Institute, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Goddard Space Flight Center, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, European Social Fund
Awards: G103270039, G1103442965, G1166668239, G121809054, G1245046120, G1338664626, G1632446036, G1700342535, G204809963, G2144673021, G256731684, G2660088634, G2660406951, G3340416472, G3480869486, G3518538256, G3660973570, G3823816291, G4035329295, G4161023950, G4442677895, G4501905872, G4526231891, G4915654406, G5480708011, G5568641063, G6307073466, 1. SCIENCE INVESTIGATION: SUMMARY IN MY ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WRITTEN PRIOR TO THE LAUNCH OF SPITZER I PLANNED A JWST PROGRAM ON ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI (AGN) AND THEIR HOST GALAXIES BUILDING ON THEN-FUTURE SPITZER OBSERVATIONS. TOWARD THE END OF THE SPITZER COLD MISSION AS THE PI FOR THE MIPS INSTRUMENT I HAD LED SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMS ON BOTH EXTRAGALACTIC OBSERVATIONS AND DEBRIS DISKS SO I PROPOSED TO EXPAND MY JWST EFFORT TO INCLUDE BOTH AN EXPANSION THAT WAS APPROVED BY ED WEILER ON OCTOBER 16 2009. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM THEREFORE INCLUDES BOTH OF THESE THEMES. SINCE BOTH PROPOSALS WERE WRITTEN MAJOR NEW CAPABILITIES HAVE ANSWERED SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS AND POSED NEW ONES. IN THE EXTRAGALACTIC ARENA THESE INCLUDE SPITZER ITSELF HERSCHEL THE EXPANDED CAPABILITIES OF THE JVLA AND ALMA. FOR DEBRIS DISKS THE MOST IMPORTANT ARE HERSCHEL ALMA AND HIGH PERFORMANCE ADAPTIVE OPTICS. THEREFORE THE MATERIAL IN THIS PROPOSAL IS RE-THOUGHT TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE CURRENT PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS. EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATIONS DESCRIBED BELOW IS DESCRIBED IN A DETAILED INTERNAL REPORT AND IS READY FOR DETAILED OBSERVATION PLANNING. THIS PROPOSAL GIVES A SUMMARY OF THE HIGH LEVEL GOALS AND REQUIRED OBSERVATIONS ONLY. IT INTENTIONALLY SOMEWHAT OVERSUBSCRIBES MY TIME ALLOTMENT TO ALLOW FOR COLLABORATIONS AND SHARED TIME AS WELL AS FURTHER OPTIMIZATION. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS MY RESEARCH GROUP HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ALL OF THEM; I HAVE BOLD-FACED CITATIONS OF OUR RELEVANT WORK IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY (ATTACHED AS APPENDIX A). IN ADDITION I WAS ASSIGNED AN ADDITIONAL 60 HOURS OF GTO TIME TO BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG (MOSTLY) YOUNG SCIENTISTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAD MADE MAJOR COMMITMENTS IN SUPPORT OF MIRI (ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO THE GTO TIME FOR MIRI SUPPORT BY THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM (EC)). APPENDIX C INCLUDES SHORT STATUS REPORTS ON THEIR PLANS., G7084143925, G7322907961, G7343478979, G7678768968, G7709247530, G7935691682, G8920660035, G8931419319
OpenAlex ID: W7155084837