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

Jack E. Birkin, Taylor A. Hutchison, Brian Welch, Justin S. Spilker, Manuel Aravena, Matthew B. Bayliss, Jared Cathey, Scott C. Chapman, Anthony H. Gonzalez, Gayathri Gururajan, Christopher C. Hayward, Gourav Khullar, Keunho J. Kim, Guillaume Mahler, Matthew A. Malkan, Desika Narayanan, Grace M. Olivier, Kedar A. Phadke, Cassie Reuter, Jane R. RigbyJ. D.T. Smith, Manuel Solimano, Nikolaus Sulzenauer, Joaquin D. Vieira, David Vizgan, Axel Weiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number64
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume958
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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