76 N/O-enhanced galaxies at 4<z<8.5 are observed shortly after starbursts, either in the WR enrichment phase within 10 Myr or the AGB phase after 30-40 Myr following outflows.
W., Sanders, R
4 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We present an analysis of deep $\textit{JWST}$/NIRSpec spectra of star-forming galaxies at $z\simeq1.4-10$, observed as part of the AURORA survey. We infer median low-ionization electron densities of $268_{-49}^{+45}~\rm cm^{-3}$, $350_{-76}^{+140}~\rm cm^{-3}$, and $480_{-310}^{+390}~\rm cm^{-3}$ at redshifts z$=2.3$, $z=3.2$, and $z=5.3$, respectively, revealing an evolutionary trend following $(1+z)^{1.5\pm0.6}$. We identify weak positive correlations between electron density and star formation rate (SFR) as well as SFR surface density, but no significant trends with stellar mass or specific SFR. Correlations with rest-optical emission line ratios show densities increasing with $\rm [NeIII]\lambda3869/[OII]\lambda3727$ and, potentially, $\rm [OIII]\lambda5007/[OII]\lambda3727$, although variations in dust attenuation complicate the latter. Additionally, electron density is more strongly correlated with distance from the local BPT sequence than can be explained by simple photoionization models. We further derive electron densities from the CIII] doublet probing higher-ionization gas, and find a median value of $1.4_{-0.5}^{+0.7}\times10^4~\rm cm^{-3}$, $\sim30$ times higher than densities inferred from [SII]. This comparison suggests a consistent HII region structure across cosmic time with dense, high-ionization interiors surrounded by less dense, low-ionization gas. We compare measurements of AURORA galaxies to predictions from the SPHINX galaxy formations, highlighting the interplay between residual molecular cloud pressure in young galaxies and feedback from stellar winds and supernovae as galaxies mature.
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astro-ph.GA 4representative citing papers
New empirical calibrations between 19 emission-line ratios and oxygen abundance are derived from direct electron-temperature measurements in 139 star-forming galaxies at z=1.4-10.6.
Deep JWST spectroscopy of Maisie's Galaxy at z=11.4 reveals moderate star formation, metallicity, and ionization consistent with a typical galaxy on the early star-formation main sequence rather than an extreme source.
JWST spectra reveal that two z~7 galaxies already show near-solar iron-to-silicon ratios with no strong odd-even effect, favoring early Type Ia supernovae over pair-instability supernovae as the source of iron enrichment.
citing papers explorer
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Diverse Histories and Common Origins of Nitrogen-enhanced JWST Galaxies
76 N/O-enhanced galaxies at 4<z<8.5 are observed shortly after starbursts, either in the WR enrichment phase within 10 Myr or the AGB phase after 30-40 Myr following outflows.
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The AURORA Survey: High-Redshift Empirical Metallicity Calibrations from Electron Temperature Measurements at z=2-10
New empirical calibrations between 19 emission-line ratios and oxygen abundance are derived from direct electron-temperature measurements in 139 star-forming galaxies at z=1.4-10.6.
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Deep Spectroscopic Follow-Up of Maisie's Galaxy -- A Typical Galaxy in the Early Universe
Deep JWST spectroscopy of Maisie's Galaxy at z=11.4 reveals moderate star formation, metallicity, and ionization consistent with a typical galaxy on the early star-formation main sequence rather than an extreme source.
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JWST Absorption-Line Analysis of UV-Bright Galaxies at $z=7.2-10.6$: Early Chemical Enrichment Traced by C, O, Mg, Al, Si, and Fe
JWST spectra reveal that two z~7 galaxies already show near-solar iron-to-silicon ratios with no strong odd-even effect, favoring early Type Ia supernovae over pair-instability supernovae as the source of iron enrichment.