Forbidden-line density diagnostics do not measure a single nebular density but selectively sample a broad unresolved density PDF, producing a universal hierarchy log ne,obs ≈ 0.3 log n_M + const.
E., Rigby, J., et al
3 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We measure the gas-phase abundances of the elements He, N, O, Ne, S, Ar, and Fe in an individual H\textsc{ii} region known to be leaking Lyman-continuum photons in the Sunburst Arc, a highly magnified galaxy at redshift $z=2.37$. We detect the temperature-sensitive auroral lines [SII]$\lambda\lambda4069,4076$, [OII]$\lambda\lambda7320,7330$, [SIII]$\lambda6312$, [OIII]$\lambda4363$, and [NeIII]$\lambda3343$ in a stacked spectrum of 5 multiple images of the Lyman-continuum emitter (LCE), from which we directly measure the electron temperature in the low, intermediate, and high ionization zones. We also detect the density-sensitive doublets of [OII]$\lambda\lambda3727,3729$, [SII]$\lambda\lambda6717,6731$, and [ArIV]$\lambda\lambda4713,4741$, which constrain the density in both the low- and high-ionization gas. With these temperature and density measurements, we measure gas-phase abundances with similar rigor as studies of local galaxies. We measure a gas-phase metallicity for the LCE of $12+\log(\textrm{O}/\textrm{H}) = 7.97 \pm 0.05$, and find an enhanced nitrogen abundance $\log(\textrm{N}/\textrm{O}) = -0.65^{+0.16}_{-0.25}$. This nitrogen abundance is consistent with enrichment from a population of Wolf-Rayet stars, additional signatures of which are reported in a companion paper. Abundances of sulfur, argon, neon, and iron are consistent with local low-metallicity H\textsc{ii} regions and low-redshift galaxies. This study represents the most complete chemical abundance analysis of an individual H\textsc{ii} region at Cosmic Noon to date, which enables direct comparisons between local H\textsc{ii} regions and those in the distant universe.
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astro-ph.GA 3representative citing papers
Measures a new nebular attenuation curve from 1400-9550 Å for galaxy GOODSN-17940 at z=4.41 that is steeper than Milky Way/SMC/Calzetti at long wavelengths, similar in blue-optical, and shallower in UV with no 2175 Å bump.
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There is no single density: star-forming regions and galaxies hold more dense ionized gas than long assumed
Forbidden-line density diagnostics do not measure a single nebular density but selectively sample a broad unresolved density PDF, producing a universal hierarchy log ne,obs ≈ 0.3 log n_M + const.
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The AURORA Survey: The Nebular Attenuation Curve of a Galaxy at z=4.41 from Ultraviolet to Near-Infrared Wavelengths
Measures a new nebular attenuation curve from 1400-9550 Å for galaxy GOODSN-17940 at z=4.41 that is steeper than Milky Way/SMC/Calzetti at long wavelengths, similar in blue-optical, and shallower in UV with no 2175 Å bump.
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