Ejective feedback as a quenching mechanism in the 1.5 billion years of the universe: detection of neutral gas outflow in a $z=4$ recently quenched galaxy

TL;DR

This paper reports the detection of neutral gas outflows in a recently quenched galaxy at redshift 4, providing evidence that ejective feedback mechanisms can rapidly suppress star formation in the early universe.

Contribution

It presents the first direct evidence of neutral gas outflows in a massive quiescent galaxy at z=4, highlighting ejective feedback as a key quenching process in the early universe.

Findings

Neutral gas outflow detected via blueshifted absorption lines.

Outflow rate is about 7 times the star formation rate.

Star formation declined rapidly with a timescale of ~50 Myrs.

Abstract

The confirmation of massive quiescent galaxies emerging within the first billion years of the universe poses intriguing questions about the mechanisms of galaxy formation. There must be highly efficient processes at work to shut down star formation in galaxies at cosmic dawn. I present the detection of neutral outflowing gas in a massive recently quenched galaxy at $z=4$, showing ejective back as a quenching mechanism. Based on JWST spectrum, the star formation rate of this has been declining with a rapid e-folding timescale of $\sim50$ Myrs. The current specific star formation rate is $5\times10^{-11}$ yr$^{-1}$, roughly 40 times lower than that of the star-forming main sequence at comparable redshifts. Emission line ratios of [NeIII]/[OII] and [OIII]/H$\beta$ are similar to AGN at comparable redshifts. A series of FeII and MgII absorption lines appear blueshifted by $\sim250$~km~s$^{-1}$ relative to the stellar continuum, suggesting an outflow of neutral gas. The estimated mass outflow rate is approximately 7 times greater than the star formation rate derived from the stellar continuum, implying that the suppression of star formation is likely due to gas being depleted by the outflow. If the emission lines are AGN-driven, the AGN can also provide sufficient energy to launch the outflow observed. This galaxy represents the most distant example of its kind known to date. This study offers a compelling explanation for the existence of massive quiescent galaxies in the first billion years of the universe.