9 research outputs found
JADES NIRSpec Spectroscopy of GN-z11: Lyman- emission and possible enhanced nitrogen abundance in a luminous galaxy
We present JADES JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy of GN-z11, the most luminous
candidate Lyman break galaxy in the GOODS-North field with
. We derive a redshift of (lower than previous
determinations) based on multiple emission lines in our low and medium
resolution spectra over m. We significantly detect the continuum
and measure a blue rest-UV spectral slope of . Remarkably, we see
spatially-extended Lyman- in emission (despite the highly-neutral IGM
expected at this early epoch), offset 555 km/s redward of the systemic
redshift. From our measurements of collisionally-excited lines of both low- and
high-ionization (including [O II] , [Ne III] and C
III] ) we infer a high ionization parameter (). We
detect the rarely-seen N IV] and N III] lines in
both our low and medium resolution spectra, with other high ionization lines
seen in low resolution spectrum such as He II (blended with O III]) and C IV
(with a possible P-Cygni profile). Based on the observed rest-UV line ratios,
we cannot conclusively rule out photoionization from AGN. The high C III]/He II
ratios, however, suggest a likely star-formation explanation. If the observed
emission lines are powered by star formation, then the strong N III]
observed may imply an unusually high abundance. Balmer
emission lines (H, H) are also detected, and if powered by star
formation rather than an AGN we infer a star formation rate of (depending on the IMF) and low dust attenuation. Our
NIRSpec spectroscopy confirms that GN-z11 is a remarkable galaxy with extreme
properties seen 430 Myr after the Big Bang.Comment: Submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics, 14 pages, 9 figure
JADES NIRSpec Spectroscopy of GN-z11: Lyman- α emission and possible enhanced nitrogen abundance in a z = 10.60 luminous galaxy
International audienceWe present JADES JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy of GN-z11, the most luminous candidate z >â10 Lyman break galaxy in the GOODS-North field with M UV =ââ21.5. We derive a redshift of z =â10.603 (lower than previous determinations) based on multiple emission lines in our low and medium resolution spectra over 0.7â
ââ
5.3âÎŒm. We significantly detect the continuum and measure a blue rest-UV spectral slope of ÎČ =ââ2.4. Remarkably, we see spatially extended Lyman- α in emission (despite the highly neutral intergalactic medium expected at this early epoch), offset 555 km s â1 redwards of the systemic redshift. From our measurements of collisionally excited lines of both low and high ionisation (including [O II ] λ 3727, [Ne III ] λ 3869, and C III ] λ 1909), we infer a high ionisation parameter (log U âŒââ2). We detect the rarely seen N IV ] λ 1486 and N III ] λ 1748 lines in both our low and medium resolution spectra, with other high ionisation lines seen in the low resolution spectrum, such as He II (blended with O III ]) and C IV (with a possible P-Cygni profile). Based on the observed rest-UV line ratios, we cannot conclusively rule out photoionisation from an active galactic nucleus (AGN), although the high C III ]/He II and N III ]/He II ratios are compatible with a star formation explanation. If the observed emission lines are powered by star formation, then the strong N III ] λ 1748 observed may imply an unusually high N / O abundance. Balmer emission lines (H Îł , H ÎŽ ) are also detected, and if powered by star formation rather than an AGN, we infer a star formation rate of âŒ20 â 30 M â yr â1 (depending on the initial mass function) and low dust attenuation. Our NIRSpec spectroscopy confirms that GN-z11 is a remarkable galaxy with extreme properties seen 430 Myr after the Big Bang