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Direct Abundance Maps and Radial Metallicity Gradients of two Galaxies at z 4-5 in the GARDEN Survey
預印本

Direct Abundance Maps and Radial Metallicity Gradients of two Galaxies at z 4-5 in the GARDEN Survey

L Stanghellini, S. A Kassin, C Pacifici, J. E Morrison, M. E Dickinson, E Sukay, C. R Mulcahey, L. E Bergeron, M. W Regan, C. N. A Willmer, …
31/03/2026

摘要

Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
We investigate galaxies in the GARDEN (Galaxies at All Redshifts Deciphered and Explained with the NIRSpec MSA) survey that exhibit auroral emission lines, enabling spatially resolved measurements of electron temperature and direct oxygen abundances. Two galaxies in this survey have spectra suitable for this analysis: CANDELS 8005 at z=3.794 and CANDELS 7986 at z=4.702. For both galaxies, we measure auroral and key nebular emission-line fluxes across their full extent, allowing direct-method oxygen abundance determinations in individual spatial pixels (spaxels). These observations demonstrate the viability of deep JWST/NIRSpec MSA spectroscopy for spatially resolved chemical analyses at high redshift, aided by weak nebular continua and low interstellar extinction. We derive global direct abundances of 12 + log(O/H) = 8.008 ^(+0.025)_(-0.027)for CANDELS 8005 and 7.89 ^(+0.027)_(-0.028)for CANDELS 7986. Emission-line diagnostics indicate neither galaxy hosts an active galactic nucleus. A first-order kinematic analysis suggests a potential merger in CANDELS 8005. The direct abundances are consistent with strong-line estimates based on our data and recent high-redshift calibrations. We build emission line, radial velocity, strong-line abundance indices, electron temperature, and direct abundance maps for both galaxies, thanks to the excellent spatial resolution. From the direct abundance maps we measure linear radial metallicity gradients of- 0.111 ^(+0.026)_(-0.025)dex kpc ⁻¹for CANDELS 8005 (statistically significant), and- 0.0928 ± 0.0880 dex kpc ⁻¹for CANDELS 7986, where the large uncertainties limit the significance of the result. These results provide a rare direct measurement of a radial metallicity gradient atz>0from direct-method abundances, offering key observational support for inside-out galaxy growth with feedback-regulated chemical enrichment.

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