The eventful life of GS-z14-0, the most distant galaxy at redshift $z=14.32$

TL;DR

This paper models the complex star formation history of the most distant galaxy known, GS-z14-0 at redshift 14.32, revealing phases of bursty activity, dust obscuration, and outflows that shape early galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed, dynamic model of early galaxy star formation history that aligns with observations of GS-z14-0, highlighting phases of feedback, dust obscuration, and outflows.

Findings

Galaxy experienced feedback-regulated bursty star formation.

Dust shielding led to a heavily obscured star formation phase.

Powerful outflows cleared dust and reduced star formation rate.

Abstract

We developed a model for the star formation history (SFH) of super-early galaxies and applied it to GS-z14-0, the most distant galaxy known, located at $z=14.32$ (294 million years after the Big Bang). The SFH, starting at $z=26.7$, is complex. Initially ($z>18$), the galaxy experiences feedback-regulated phases that are bursty, relatively faint (reaching $M_{\rm UV}=-18.4$), and unattenuated. When dust shielding allows for a smooth star formation rate (SFR), the galaxy quickly becomes heavily obscured. During this obscured phase, which lasts for approximately 20% of the total star-forming time, 70% of the observed stars are formed. Super-early galaxies in this phase should be detectable by ALMA. Twenty-six million years before observation, as the galaxy becomes super-Eddington, a powerful radiation-driven outflow clears most of the dust and significantly reduces the SFR by a factor of seven, from $100 \to 15\ M_\odot \rm yr^{-1}$. The galaxy transitions into a "blue monster" dominating the bright end of the UV luminosity function. When the outflow ceases due to decreased dust opacity, the galaxy relaxes into a post-starburst phase, in which it is currently observed. Our model accurately reproduces all the observed and inferred properties of the galaxy. The analysis of this extreme system opens exciting opportunities for studying the beginnings of the luminous Universe.