The puzzling properties of the MACS1149-JD1 galaxy at z=9.11

TL;DR

This study uses JWST data to analyze the high-redshift galaxy MACS1149-JD1, revealing its structure, chemical composition, star formation history, and suggesting it is a young galaxy with recent star formation activity.

Contribution

First detailed spectroscopic and imaging analysis of MACS1149-JD1 at z=9.11, revealing its structure, chemical enrichment, and star formation history, indicating it is a young galaxy.

Findings

JD1 comprises three spatially distinct components.

JD1 is dust-free but chemically enriched with oxygen.

Star formation history indicates a recent burst and lack of old stellar populations.

Abstract

We analyze new JWST NIRCam and NIRSpec data on the redshift 9.11 galaxy MACS1149-JD1. Our NIRCam imaging data reveal that JD1 comprises three spatially distinct components. Our spectroscopic data indicate that JD1 appears dust-free but is already enriched, $12 + \log {\rm (O/H) } = 7.90^{+0.04}_{-0.05}$. We also find that the Carbon and Neon abundances in JD1 are below the solar abundance ratio. Particularly the Carbon under-abundance is suggestive of recent star formation where Type~II supernovae have already enriched the ISM in Oxygen but intermediate mass stars have not yet enriched the ISM in Carbon. A recent burst of star formation is also revealed by the star formation history derived from NIRCam photometry. Our data do not reveal the presence of a significant amount of old populations, resulting in a factor of $\sim7\times$ smaller stellar mass than previous estimates. Thus, our data support the view that JD1 is a young galaxy.