JWST's PEARLS: dust attenuation and gravitational lensing in the backlit-galaxy system VV 191

TL;DR

This study uses JWST and HST imaging to analyze dust attenuation and gravitational lensing in the galaxy VV 191, revealing complex dust structures, a steeper attenuation law than typical starburst regions, and detailed lensing features with mass estimates.

Contribution

First detailed multi-wavelength dust attenuation profile in VV 191, revealing a steeper reddening law and complex dust web structure, along with gravitational lensing analysis of a background galaxy.

Findings

Dust lanes extend beyond spiral arms, forming a complex web.

Attenuation law favors a stronger reddening (R~2.0) than in starbursts.

Gravitational lensing reveals a background galaxy at z~1 with a mass/light ratio of 7.6.

Abstract

We derive the spatial and wavelength behavior of dust attenuation in the multiple-armed spiral galaxy VV191b using backlighting by the superimposed elliptical system VV191a in a pair with an exceptionally favorable geometry for this measurement. Imaging using JWST and HST spans the wavelength range 0.3-4.5 microns with high angular resolution, tracing the dust in detail from 0.6 to 1.5 microns. Distinct dust lanes continue well beyond the bright spiral arms, and trace a complex web, with a very sharp radial cutoff near 1.7 Petrosian radii. We present attenuation profiles and coverage statistics in each band at radii 14-21 kpc. We derive the attenuation law with wavelength; the data both within and between the dust lanes clearly favor a stronger reddening behavior (R ~ 2.0 between 0.6 and 0.9 microns, approaching unity by 1.5 microns) than found for starbursts and star-forming regions of galaxies. Power-law extinction behavior lambda^(-beta) gives beta=2.1 from 0.6-0.9 microns. R decreases at increasing wavelengths (R~1.1 between 0.9 and 1.5 microns), while beta steepens to 2.5. Mixing regions of different column density flattens the wavelength behavior, so these results suggest a different grain population than in our vicinity. The NIRCam images reveal a lens arc and counterimage from a background galaxy at z~1, spanning 90 degrees azimuthally at 2.8" from the foreground elliptical galaxy nucleus, and an additional weakly-lensed galaxy. The lens model and imaging data give a mass/light ratio 7.6 in solar units within the Einstein radius 2.0 kpc.