The unusual NIV]-emitter galaxy GDS J033218.92-275302.7: star formation or AGN-driven winds from a massive galaxy at z=5.56

TL;DR

This study analyzes a high-redshift galaxy exhibiting both star formation and possible AGN activity, revealing a complex structure with dense gas, outflows, and evidence of an evolved stellar population, contributing to understanding galaxy evolution at early cosmic times.

Contribution

It provides detailed multi-wavelength analysis of a z=5.56 galaxy, highlighting the coexistence of star formation and AGN-driven winds in a dense, massive galaxy at early epochs.

Findings

Presence of both evolved and young stellar populations.

Detection of high-velocity outflows (~450 km/s).

Evidence of dense gas and compact emission regions.

Abstract

Aims: We investigate the nature of the source GDS J033218.92-275302.7at redshift ~ 5.56. Methods: The SED of the source is well sampled by 16 bands photometry, from UV-optical, near infrared and mid-infrared (MID-IR).The detection of signal in the MID-IR Spitzer/IRAC bands 5.8, 8.0 um -- where the nebular emission contribution is less effective -- suggests the presence of a Balmer break, signature of an underlying stellar population formed at earlier epochs. The optical spectrum shows a clear Lya emission line together with semi-forbidden NIV] 1483.3-1486.5 also in emission. Results: From the SED fitting and the Lya modelling it turns out that the source seems to have an evolved component with stellar mass of ~5 x10^(10) Msolar and age ~ 0.4 Gyrs, and a young component with an age of ~ 0.01 Gyrs and SFR in the range of 30-200 Msolar yr^(-1). The limits on the effective radius derived from the ACS/z850 and VLT/Ks bands indicate that this galaxy is denser than the local ones with similar mass. A relatively high nebular gas column density is favored from the Lya line modelling (NHI>=10^(21) cm^(-2)). A vigorous outflow (~ 450 km/s) has been measured from the optical spectrum,consistent with the Lya modelling. From ACS observations it turns out that the region emitting Lya photons is spatially compact and of the same order of the effective radius estimated at the ~1400A rest-frame wavelength, whose emission is dominated by the stellar continuum and/or AGN. The gas is blown out from the central region,but given the mass of the galaxy it is uncertain whether it will pollute the IGM to large distances. We argue that a burst of star formation in a dense gas environment is active (possibly containing hot and massive stars and/or a low luminosity AGN), superimposed to an already formed fraction of stellar mass (abridged).