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Abstract:

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/We present a study of the environments of 17 Lyman-α emitting galaxies (LAEs) in the reionisation-era (5.8 5%) observed in our sample of LAEs, suggesting the presence of ionised hydrogen along the line of sight towards at least eight out of 17 LAEs. We find minimum physical 'bubble'sizes of the order of R ion ∼ 0.1- 1pMpc are required in a patchy reionisation scenario where ionised bubbles containing the LAEs are embedded in a fully neutral IGM. Around half of the LAEs in our sample are found to coincide with large-scale galaxy overdensities seen in FRESCO at z ∼ 5.8- 5.9 and z ∼ 7.3, suggesting Lyman-α transmission is strongly enhanced in such overdense regions, and underlining the importance of LAEs as tracers of the first large-scale ionised bubbles. Considering only spectroscopically confirmed galaxies, we find our sample of UV-faint LAEs (M UV ≳ -20mag) and their direct neighbours are generally not able to produce the required ionised regions based on the Lyman-α transmission properties, suggesting lower-luminosity sources likely play an important role in carving out these bubbles. These observations demonstrate the combined power of JWST multi-object and slitless spectroscopy in acquiring a unique view of the early Universe during cosmic reionisation via the most distant LAEs.Peer reviewe

Abstract:

JWST has revolutionized the field of extragalactic astronomy with its sensitive and high-resolution infrared view of the distant Universe. Adding to the new legacy of JWST observations, we present the first NIRCam imaging data release from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), providing nine filters of infrared imaging of ∼25 arcmin2 covering the Hubble Ultra Deep Field and portions of Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey South. Utilizing 87 on-sky dual-filter hours of exposure time, these images reveal the deepest ever near-infrared view of this iconic field. We supply carefully constructed nine-band mosaics of the JADES bands, as well as matching reductions of five additional bands from the JWST Extragalactic Medium-band Survey. Combining with existing Hubble Space Telescope imaging, we provide 23-band space-based photometric catalogs and photometric redshifts for ≈47,500 sources. To promote broad engagement with JADES, we have created an interactive FitsMap website to provide an interface for professional researchers and the public to experience these JWST data sets. Combined with the first JADES NIRSpec data release, these public JADES imaging and spectroscopic data sets provide a new foundation for discoveries of the infrared Universe by the worldwide scientific community

Abstract:

We report the discovery of a remarkable Lyα emitting galaxy at z = 7.2782, JADES-GS+53.16746-27.7720 (shortened to JADES-GS-z7-LA), with rest-frame equivalent width, EW0(Lyα) = 388.0 ± 88.8 Å and UV magnitude -17.0. The spectroscopic redshift is confirmed via rest-frame optical lines [O- ¯II], Hβ and [O- ¯III] in its JWST/NIRSpec Micro-Shutter Assembly (MSA) spectrum. The Lyα line is detected in both lower resolution (R ∼ 100) PRISM as well as medium resolution (R ∼ 1000) G140M grating spectra. The line spread function-deconvolved Lyα full width at half maximum in the grating is 383.9 ± 56.2 km s-1 and the Lyα velocity offset compared to the systemic redshift is 113.3 ± 80.0 km s-1, indicative of very little neutral gas or dust within the galaxy. We estimate the Lyα escape fraction to be > 70%. JADES-GS-z7-LA has a [O- ¯III]/[O- ¯II] ratio (O32) of 11.1 ± 2.2 and a ([O- ¯III] + [O- ¯II])/Hβ ratio (R23) of 11.2 ± 2.6, consistent with low metallicity and high ionization parameters. Deep NIRCam imaging also revealed a close companion source (separated by 0.23- ³), which exhibits similar photometry to that of JADES-GS-z7-LA, with a photometric excess in the F410M NIRCam image consistent with [O- ¯III] + Hβ emission at the same redshift. The spectral energy distribution of JADES-GS-z7-LA indicates a bursty star formation history, with a low stellar mass of 107† M·. Assuming that the Lyα transmission through the intergalactic medium is the same as its measured escape fraction, an ionized region of size > 1.5 pMpc is needed to explain the high Lyα EW and low velocity offset compared to systemic seen in JADES-GS-z7-LA. Owing to its UV-faintness, we show that it is incapable of single-handedly ionizing a region large enough to explain its Lyα emission. Therefore, we suggest that JADES-GS-z7-LA (and possibly the companion source) may be a part of a larger overdensity, presenting direct evidence of overlapping ionized bubbles at z > 7

Abstract:

We present emission line ratios from a sample of 26 Lyman break galaxies from $z\sim5.5-9.5$ with $-17.05.5$ spectra. We find that the emission line ratios exhibited by these $z\sim5.5-9.5$ galaxies occupy clearly distinct regions of line-ratio space compared to typical z~0-3 galaxies, instead being more consistent with extreme populations of lower-redshift galaxies. This is best illustrated by the [OIII]/[OII] ratio, tracing interstellar medium (ISM) ionisation, in which we observe more than half of our sample to have [OIII]/[OII]>10. Our high signal-to-noise spectra reveal more than an order of magnitude of scatter in line ratios such as [OII]/H$\beta$ and [OIII]/[OII], indicating significant diversity in the ISM conditions within the sample. We find no convincing detections of [NII] in our sample, either in individual galaxies, or a stack of all G395M/F290LP spectra. The emission line ratios observed in our sample are generally consistent with galaxies with extremely high ionisation parameters (log $U\sim-1.5$), and a range of metallicities spanning from $\sim0.1\times Z_\odot$ to higher than $\sim0.3\times Z_\odot$, suggesting we are probing low-metallicity systems undergoing periods of rapid star-formation, driving strong radiation fields. These results highlight the value of deep observations in constraining the properties of individual galaxies, and hence probing diversity within galaxy population.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics, updated values in table

Abstract:

Cosmic dust—tiny, ancient particles adrift in space—holds the secret to how planets, and ultimately life, are born. Though nearly invisible, these microscopic grains are the architects of worlds. Formed in the death throes of stars, they float through the cosmos, merging, colliding, and evolving over billions of years until gravity and chemistry weave them into planets. This humble dust bridges the past and future of the universe: the remnants of dying stars become the seeds of new solar systems. Yet, cosmic dust also challenges our perception of significance. In every grain lies a history older than Earth itself, a reminder that our planet and bodies are sculpted from the same interstellar material. Understanding cosmic dust reshapes humanity’s sense of origin and belonging—it shows that creation is not a singular event but an unending cosmic cycle of destruction, transformation, and rebirth