James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

GA-NIFS: An extremely nitrogen-loud and chemically stratified galaxy at z ~ 5.55 (GS_3073)

Wide-band colour-composite image constructed from JWST/NIRCam observations of GS_3073 (Rieke et al., 2023). Abstract: We report the chemical abundance pattern of GS_3073, a galaxy at z=5.55 which was previously confirmed to host an overmassive active black hole, by leveraging the detection of about 40 emission lines, combining JWST/NIRSpec observations and ground-based (VLT/VIMOS) data. By using rest-frame UV emission lines, which trace high-density (~105 cm-3) and highly ionized gas, we derived an abundance ratio of log(N/O)=0.46+0.12-0.09. At an estimated metallicity of 0.2 Z?, this is the most extreme nitrogen-rich object found by JWST thus far. In comparison, the relative carbon abundance derived from the rest-frame UV emission lines is log(C/O)=-0.30+0.12-0.09, which is not significantly higher than those in local galaxies and stars with similar metallicities. We also detected coronal lines, including [FeVII]?6087 and potentially [FeXIV]?5303. We inferred a high Fe abundance of [Fe/O]?0.1. Overall, the chemical abundance pattern of GS\_3073 is compatible with enrichment by super-massive stars with M*?1000 M?, ejecta from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, or winds from Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, although the WR scenario is less likely. Interestingly, when using optical emission lines which trace lower density (~103 cm-3) and lower ionization gas, we found a sub-solar N/O ratio. We interpret the difference in N/O derived from UV lines and optical lines as evidence for a stratified system, where the inner and denser region is both more chemically enriched and more ionized. Taking this luminous, well-studied system as a benchmark, our results suggest that nitrogen loudness in high-z galaxies is confined to the central, dense, and highly ionized region of the galaxy, while the bulk of the galaxy evolves more normally.