JWST's TEMPLATES for Star Formation: The First Resolved Gas-phase Metallicity Maps of Dust-obscured Star-forming Galaxies at z ∼ 4

Welch, Brian; Aravena, Manuel; Gonzalez, Anthony H.; Khullar, Gourav; Malkan, Matthew A.; Rigby, Jane R.

Abstract

We present the first spatially resolved maps of gas-phase metallicity for two dust-obscured star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 4, from the JWST TEMPLATES Early Release Science program, derived from NIRSpec integral field unit spectroscopy of the Hα and [N ii] emission lines. Empirical optical line calibrations are used to determine that the sources are globally enriched to near-solar levels. While one source shows elevated [N ii]/Hα ratios and broad Hα emission consistent with the presence of an active galactic nucleus in a ≳1 kpc region, we argue that both systems have already undergone significant metal enrichment as a result of their extremely high star formation rates. Utilizing Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array rest-frame 380 μm continuum and [Ci](3P2-3P1) line maps we compare the spatial variation of the metallicity and gas-to-dust ratio in the two galaxies, finding the two properties to be anticorrelated on highly resolved spatial scales, consistent with various literature studies of z ∼ 0 galaxies. The data are indicative of the enormous potential of JWST to probe the enrichment of the interstellar medium on ∼kpc scales in extremely dust-obscured systems at z ∼ 4 and beyond.

Más información

Título según WOS: JWST's TEMPLATES for Star Formation: The First Resolved Gas-phase Metallicity Maps of Dust-obscured Star-forming Galaxies at z ∼ 4
Título según SCOPUS: JWST's TEMPLATES for Star Formation: The First Resolved Gas-phase Metallicity Maps of Dust-obscured Star-forming Galaxies at z ∼ 4
Título de la Revista: Astrophysical Journal
Volumen: 958
Número: 1
Editorial: Institute of Physics
Fecha de publicación: 2023
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.3847/1538-4357/acf712

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS