MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST

P. Rinaldi; K. I. Caputi; E. Iani; L. Costantin; S. Gillman; P. G.Perez Gonzalez; G. Östlin; L. Colina; T. R. Greve; H. U. Nørgard-Nielsen; G. S. Wright; J. Álvarez-Márquez; A. Eckart; M. García-Marín; J. Hjorth; O. Ilbert; S. Kendrew; A. Labiano; O. Le Fèvre; J. Pye; T. Tikkanen; F. Walter; P. van der Werf; M. Ward; M. Annunziatella; R. Azzollini; A. Bik; L. Boogaard; S. E.I. Bosman; A. Crespo Gómez; I. Jermann; D. Langeroodi; J. Melinder; R. A. Meyer; T. Moutard; F. Peissker; E. van Dishoeck; M. Güdel; Th Henning; P. O. Lagage; T. Ray; B. Vandenbussche; C. Waelkens; Pratika Dayal

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147

MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST

P. Rinaldi, K. I. Caputi, E. Iani, L. Costantin, S. Gillman, P. G.Perez Gonzalez, G. Östlin, L. Colina, T. R. Greve, H. U. Nørgard-Nielsen, G. S. Wright, J. Álvarez-Márquez, A. Eckart, M. García-Marín, J. Hjorth, O. Ilbert, S. Kendrew, A. Labiano, O. Le Fèvre, J. PyeT. Tikkanen, F. Walter, P. van der Werf, M. Ward, M. Annunziatella, R. Azzollini, A. Bik, L. Boogaard, S. E.I. Bosman, A. Crespo Gómez, I. Jermann, D. Langeroodi, J. Melinder, R. A. Meyer, T. Moutard, F. Peissker, E. van Dishoeck, M. Güdel, Th Henning, P. O. Lagage, T. Ray, B. Vandenbussche, C. Waelkens, Pratika Dayal

Department of Astrophysics

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Abstract

By using an ultradeep JWST/MIRI image at 5.6 μm in the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, we constrain the role of strong Hα emitters (HAEs) during “cosmic reionization” at z ≃ 7-8. Our sample of HAEs is comprised of young (<35 Myr) galaxies, except for one single galaxy (≈300 Myr), with low stellar masses (≲10⁹ M_☉). These HAEs show a wide range of rest-frame UV continuum slopes (β), with a median value of β = -2.15 ± 0.21, which broadly correlates with stellar mass. We estimate the ionizing photon production efficiency (ξ_ion,0) of these sources (assuming f_esc,LyC = 0%), which yields a median value log₁₀(x_ion,0 (Hz erg^-1)) = 25.50_-⁺_0.12^0.10. We show that ξ_ion,0 positively correlates with Hα equivalent width and specific star formation rate. Instead ξ_ion,0 weakly anticorrelates with stellar mass and β. Based on the β values, we predict f_esc,LyC = 4%_-⁺₂³, which results in log₁₀(x_ion (Hz erg^-1)) = 25.55_-⁺_0.13^0.11. Considering this and related findings from the literature, we find a mild evolution of ξ_ion with redshift. Additionally, our results suggest that these HAEs require only modest escape fractions (f_esc,rel) of 6%-15% to reionize their surrounding intergalactic medium. By only considering the contribution of these HAEs, we estimated their total ionizing emissivity (N_{(Equation presented)ion}) as N_{(Equation presented)ion} = 10^50.53±0.45 s^-1Mpc^-3. When comparing their N_{(Equation presented)ion} with non-HAE galaxies across the same redshift range, we find that that strong, young, and low-mass emitters may have played an important role during cosmic reionization.

Original language	English
Article number	12
Number of pages	15
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	969
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147
Publication status	Published - Jul 2024

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103003 Astronomy
103004 Astrophysics

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Rinaldi, P., Caputi, K. I., Iani, E., Costantin, L., Gillman, S., Gonzalez, P. G. P., Östlin, G., Colina, L., Greve, T. R., Nørgard-Nielsen, H. U., Wright, G. S., Álvarez-Márquez, J., Eckart, A., García-Marín, M., Hjorth, J., Ilbert, O., Kendrew, S., Labiano, A., Le Fèvre, O., ... Dayal, P. (2024). MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST. Astrophysical Journal, 969(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147

@article{6b45e9a59af64ed4831d215cd6e9c3a0,

title = "MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST",

abstract = "By using an ultradeep JWST/MIRI image at 5.6 μm in the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, we constrain the role of strong Hα emitters (HAEs) during “cosmic reionization” at z ≃ 7-8. Our sample of HAEs is comprised of young (<35 Myr) galaxies, except for one single galaxy (≈300 Myr), with low stellar masses (≲109 M☉). These HAEs show a wide range of rest-frame UV continuum slopes (β), with a median value of β = -2.15 ± 0.21, which broadly correlates with stellar mass. We estimate the ionizing photon production efficiency (ξion,0) of these sources (assuming fesc,LyC = 0%), which yields a median value log10(xion,0 (Hz erg-1)) = 25.50-+0.120.10. We show that ξion,0 positively correlates with Hα equivalent width and specific star formation rate. Instead ξion,0 weakly anticorrelates with stellar mass and β. Based on the β values, we predict fesc,LyC = 4%-+23, which results in log10(xion (Hz erg-1)) = 25.55-+0.130.11. Considering this and related findings from the literature, we find a mild evolution of ξion with redshift. Additionally, our results suggest that these HAEs require only modest escape fractions (fesc,rel) of 6%-15% to reionize their surrounding intergalactic medium. By only considering the contribution of these HAEs, we estimated their total ionizing emissivity (N(Equation presented)ion) as N(Equation presented)ion = 1050.53±0.45 s-1Mpc-3. When comparing their N(Equation presented)ion with non-HAE galaxies across the same redshift range, we find that that strong, young, and low-mass emitters may have played an important role during cosmic reionization.",

author = "P. Rinaldi and Caputi, {K. I.} and E. Iani and L. Costantin and S. Gillman and Gonzalez, {P. G.Perez} and G. {\"O}stlin and L. Colina and Greve, {T. R.} and N{\o}rgard-Nielsen, {H. U.} and Wright, {G. S.} and J. {\'A}lvarez-M{\'a}rquez and A. Eckart and M. Garc{\'i}a-Mar{\'i}n and J. Hjorth and O. Ilbert and S. Kendrew and A. Labiano and {Le F{\`e}vre}, O. and J. Pye and T. Tikkanen and F. Walter and {van der Werf}, P. and M. Ward and M. Annunziatella and R. Azzollini and A. Bik and L. Boogaard and Bosman, {S. E.I.} and G{\'o}mez, {A. Crespo} and I. Jermann and D. Langeroodi and J. Melinder and Meyer, {R. A.} and T. Moutard and F. Peissker and {van Dishoeck}, E. and M. G{\"u}del and Th Henning and Lagage, {P. O.} and T. Ray and B. Vandenbussche and C. Waelkens and Pratika Dayal",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s)",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147",

language = "English",

volume = "969",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd",

number = "1",

}

Rinaldi, P, Caputi, KI, Iani, E, Costantin, L, Gillman, S, Gonzalez, PGP, Östlin, G, Colina, L, Greve, TR, Nørgard-Nielsen, HU, Wright, GS, Álvarez-Márquez, J, Eckart, A, García-Marín, M, Hjorth, J, Ilbert, O, Kendrew, S, Labiano, A, Le Fèvre, O, Pye, J, Tikkanen, T, Walter, F, van der Werf, P, Ward, M, Annunziatella, M, Azzollini, R, Bik, A, Boogaard, L, Bosman, SEI, Gómez, AC, Jermann, I, Langeroodi, D, Melinder, J, Meyer, RA, Moutard, T, Peissker, F, van Dishoeck, E, Güdel, M, Henning, T, Lagage, PO, Ray, T, Vandenbussche, B, Waelkens, C & Dayal, P 2024, 'MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 969, no. 1, 12. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147

TY - JOUR

T1 - MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST

AU - Rinaldi, P.

AU - Caputi, K. I.

AU - Iani, E.

AU - Costantin, L.

AU - Gillman, S.

AU - Gonzalez, P. G.Perez

AU - Östlin, G.

AU - Colina, L.

AU - Greve, T. R.

AU - Nørgard-Nielsen, H. U.

AU - Wright, G. S.

AU - Álvarez-Márquez, J.

AU - Eckart, A.

AU - García-Marín, M.

AU - Hjorth, J.

AU - Ilbert, O.

AU - Kendrew, S.

AU - Labiano, A.

AU - Le Fèvre, O.

AU - Pye, J.

AU - Tikkanen, T.

AU - Walter, F.

AU - van der Werf, P.

AU - Ward, M.

AU - Annunziatella, M.

AU - Azzollini, R.

AU - Bik, A.

AU - Boogaard, L.

AU - Bosman, S. E.I.

AU - Gómez, A. Crespo

AU - Jermann, I.

AU - Langeroodi, D.

AU - Melinder, J.

AU - Meyer, R. A.

AU - Moutard, T.

AU - Peissker, F.

AU - van Dishoeck, E.

AU - Güdel, M.

AU - Henning, Th

AU - Lagage, P. O.

AU - Ray, T.

AU - Vandenbussche, B.

AU - Waelkens, C.

AU - Dayal, Pratika

PY - 2024/7

Y1 - 2024/7

N2 - By using an ultradeep JWST/MIRI image at 5.6 μm in the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, we constrain the role of strong Hα emitters (HAEs) during “cosmic reionization” at z ≃ 7-8. Our sample of HAEs is comprised of young (<35 Myr) galaxies, except for one single galaxy (≈300 Myr), with low stellar masses (≲109 M☉). These HAEs show a wide range of rest-frame UV continuum slopes (β), with a median value of β = -2.15 ± 0.21, which broadly correlates with stellar mass. We estimate the ionizing photon production efficiency (ξion,0) of these sources (assuming fesc,LyC = 0%), which yields a median value log10(xion,0 (Hz erg-1)) = 25.50-+0.120.10. We show that ξion,0 positively correlates with Hα equivalent width and specific star formation rate. Instead ξion,0 weakly anticorrelates with stellar mass and β. Based on the β values, we predict fesc,LyC = 4%-+23, which results in log10(xion (Hz erg-1)) = 25.55-+0.130.11. Considering this and related findings from the literature, we find a mild evolution of ξion with redshift. Additionally, our results suggest that these HAEs require only modest escape fractions (fesc,rel) of 6%-15% to reionize their surrounding intergalactic medium. By only considering the contribution of these HAEs, we estimated their total ionizing emissivity (N(Equation presented)ion) as N(Equation presented)ion = 1050.53±0.45 s-1Mpc-3. When comparing their N(Equation presented)ion with non-HAE galaxies across the same redshift range, we find that that strong, young, and low-mass emitters may have played an important role during cosmic reionization.

AB - By using an ultradeep JWST/MIRI image at 5.6 μm in the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, we constrain the role of strong Hα emitters (HAEs) during “cosmic reionization” at z ≃ 7-8. Our sample of HAEs is comprised of young (<35 Myr) galaxies, except for one single galaxy (≈300 Myr), with low stellar masses (≲109 M☉). These HAEs show a wide range of rest-frame UV continuum slopes (β), with a median value of β = -2.15 ± 0.21, which broadly correlates with stellar mass. We estimate the ionizing photon production efficiency (ξion,0) of these sources (assuming fesc,LyC = 0%), which yields a median value log10(xion,0 (Hz erg-1)) = 25.50-+0.120.10. We show that ξion,0 positively correlates with Hα equivalent width and specific star formation rate. Instead ξion,0 weakly anticorrelates with stellar mass and β. Based on the β values, we predict fesc,LyC = 4%-+23, which results in log10(xion (Hz erg-1)) = 25.55-+0.130.11. Considering this and related findings from the literature, we find a mild evolution of ξion with redshift. Additionally, our results suggest that these HAEs require only modest escape fractions (fesc,rel) of 6%-15% to reionize their surrounding intergalactic medium. By only considering the contribution of these HAEs, we estimated their total ionizing emissivity (N(Equation presented)ion) as N(Equation presented)ion = 1050.53±0.45 s-1Mpc-3. When comparing their N(Equation presented)ion with non-HAE galaxies across the same redshift range, we find that that strong, young, and low-mass emitters may have played an important role during cosmic reionization.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198615796&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ad4147

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85198615796

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 969

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 12

ER -

MIDIS: Unveiling the Role of Strong Hα Emitters During the Epoch of Reionization with JWST

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Austrian Fields of Science 2012

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