Dynamics of a Galaxy at z > 10 Explored by JWST Integral Field Spectroscopy: Hints of Rotating Disk Suggesting Weak Feedback

TL;DR

This study uses JWST integral field spectroscopy to analyze the galaxy GN-z11 at z>10, revealing a potential rotating disk with weak feedback, though outflows could also explain the observed velocity gradient.

Contribution

The paper presents the first evidence of a possible rotating disk in a galaxy at z>10 using JWST data, supporting early disk formation theories.

Findings

Detection of extended CIII] emission with a velocity gradient

Estimated rotation velocity of approximately 257 km/s

Indications of a rotation-dominated disk at high redshift

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of GN-z11, a luminous galaxy at $z=10.60$, carefully analyzing the public deep integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data taken with JWST NIRSpec IFU. While the observations of the IFS data originally targeted a He II clump near GN-z11, we find that CIII]$\lambda\lambda$1907,1909 emission from ionized gas at GN-z11 is bright and spatially extended significantly beyond the point-spread function (PSF). The spatially extended CIII emission of GN-z11 shows a velocity gradient, red- and blue-shifted components in the north and south directions, respectively, which cannot be explained by the variation of [CIII]$\lambda$1907/CIII]$\lambda$1909 line ratios. Assuming the velocity gradient is produced by disk rotation, we perform forward modeling with GalPak$^{3D}$, including the effects of PSF smearing and line blending, and obtain a rotation velocity of $v_{rot}=257^{+138}_{-117}$ km s$^{-1}$, a velocity dispersion of $\sigma_v=91^{+18}_{-32}$ km s$^{-1}$, and a ratio of $v_{rot}/\sigma_v=2.83^{+1.82}_{-1.41}$. The $v_{rot}/\sigma_v$ value would suggest a rotation-dominated disk existing at $z>10$ albeit with the large uncertainties. The rotation velocity agrees with those of numerical simulations predicting a rotating disk formed in the early universe under the condition of mass compaction and weak feedback. While the velocity gradient is consistent with the rotating disk solution, we recognize that galactic outflows can also explain the velocity gradient as well as the extended morphology and the high velocity dispersion found in the outskirt. Higher S/N and resolution data are necessary to conclude the physical origin of the velocity gradient in GN-z11.