JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies

Rebecca L. Davies; Sirio Belli; Minjung Park; J. Trevor Mendel; Benjamin D. Johnson; Charlie Conroy; Chloë Benton; Letizia Bugiani; Razieh Emami; Joel Leja; Yijia Li; Gabriel Maheson; Elijah P. Mathews; Rohan P. Naidu; Erica J. Nelson; Sandro Tacchella; Bryan A. Terrazas; Rainer Weinberger

doi:10.1093/mnras/stae327

JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies

Rebecca L. Davies, Sirio Belli, Minjung Park, J. Trevor Mendel, Benjamin D. Johnson, Charlie Conroy, Chloë Benton, Letizia Bugiani, Razieh Emami, Joel Leja, Yijia Li, Gabriel Maheson, Elijah P. Mathews, Rohan P. Naidu, Erica J. Nelson, Sandro Tacchella, Bryan A. Terrazas, Rainer Weinberger

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Abstract

We use deep JWST/NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 slit spectra of 113 galaxies at 1.7 < z < 3.5, selected from the mass-complete Blue Jay survey, to investigate the prevalence and typical properties of neutral gas outflows at cosmic noon. We detect excess Na ID absorption (beyond the stellar contribution) in 46 per cent of massive galaxies (log M_∗/M_☉ > 10), with similar incidence rates in star-forming and quenching systems. Half of the absorption profiles are blueshifted by at least 100 km s⁻¹, providing unambiguous evidence for neutral gas outflows. Galaxies with strong Na ID absorption are distinguished by enhanced emission line ratios consistent with AGN ionization. We conservatively measure mass outflow rates of 3-100 M_☉ yr⁻¹; comparable to or exceeding ionized gas outflow rates measured for galaxies at similar stellar mass and redshift. The outflows from the quenching systems (log(sSFR)[yr⁻¹] ≲ −10) have mass loading factors of 4-360, and the energy and momentum outflow rates exceed the expected injection rates from supernova explosions, suggesting that these galaxies could possibly be caught in a rapid blowout phase powered by the AGN. Our findings suggest that AGN-driven ejection of cold gas may be a dominant mechanism for fast quenching of star formation at z ∼ 2.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	4976-4992
Number of pages	17
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	528
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae327
State	Published - Mar 1 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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Davies, R. L., Belli, S., Park, M., Mendel, J. T., Johnson, B. D., Conroy, C., Benton, C., Bugiani, L., Emami, R., Leja, J., Li, Y., Maheson, G., Mathews, E. P., Naidu, R. P., Nelson, E. J., Tacchella, S., Terrazas, B. A., & Weinberger, R. (2024). JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 528(3), 4976-4992. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae327

@article{ef2d66008bbf4bdfb1562ec4653becd4,

title = "JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies",

abstract = "We use deep JWST/NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 slit spectra of 113 galaxies at 1.7 < z < 3.5, selected from the mass-complete Blue Jay survey, to investigate the prevalence and typical properties of neutral gas outflows at cosmic noon. We detect excess Na ID absorption (beyond the stellar contribution) in 46 per cent of massive galaxies (log M∗/M☉ > 10), with similar incidence rates in star-forming and quenching systems. Half of the absorption profiles are blueshifted by at least 100 km s−1, providing unambiguous evidence for neutral gas outflows. Galaxies with strong Na ID absorption are distinguished by enhanced emission line ratios consistent with AGN ionization. We conservatively measure mass outflow rates of 3-100 M☉ yr−1; comparable to or exceeding ionized gas outflow rates measured for galaxies at similar stellar mass and redshift. The outflows from the quenching systems (log(sSFR)[yr−1] ≲ −10) have mass loading factors of 4-360, and the energy and momentum outflow rates exceed the expected injection rates from supernova explosions, suggesting that these galaxies could possibly be caught in a rapid blowout phase powered by the AGN. Our findings suggest that AGN-driven ejection of cold gas may be a dominant mechanism for fast quenching of star formation at z ∼ 2.",

author = "Davies, {Rebecca L.} and Sirio Belli and Minjung Park and Mendel, {J. Trevor} and Johnson, {Benjamin D.} and Charlie Conroy and Chlo{\"e} Benton and Letizia Bugiani and Razieh Emami and Joel Leja and Yijia Li and Gabriel Maheson and Mathews, {Elijah P.} and Naidu, {Rohan P.} and Nelson, {Erica J.} and Sandro Tacchella and Terrazas, {Bryan A.} and Rainer Weinberger",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s).",

year = "2024",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/stae327",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "528",

pages = "4976--4992",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

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Davies, RL, Belli, S, Park, M, Mendel, JT, Johnson, BD, Conroy, C, Benton, C, Bugiani, L, Emami, R, Leja, J, Li, Y, Maheson, G, Mathews, EP, Naidu, RP, Nelson, EJ, Tacchella, S, Terrazas, BA & Weinberger, R 2024, 'JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 528, no. 3, pp. 4976-4992. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae327

TY - JOUR

T1 - JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies

AU - Davies, Rebecca L.

AU - Belli, Sirio

AU - Park, Minjung

AU - Mendel, J. Trevor

AU - Johnson, Benjamin D.

AU - Conroy, Charlie

AU - Benton, Chloë

AU - Bugiani, Letizia

AU - Emami, Razieh

AU - Leja, Joel

AU - Li, Yijia

AU - Maheson, Gabriel

AU - Mathews, Elijah P.

AU - Naidu, Rohan P.

AU - Nelson, Erica J.

AU - Tacchella, Sandro

AU - Terrazas, Bryan A.

AU - Weinberger, Rainer

PY - 2024/3/1

Y1 - 2024/3/1

N2 - We use deep JWST/NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 slit spectra of 113 galaxies at 1.7 < z < 3.5, selected from the mass-complete Blue Jay survey, to investigate the prevalence and typical properties of neutral gas outflows at cosmic noon. We detect excess Na ID absorption (beyond the stellar contribution) in 46 per cent of massive galaxies (log M∗/M☉ > 10), with similar incidence rates in star-forming and quenching systems. Half of the absorption profiles are blueshifted by at least 100 km s−1, providing unambiguous evidence for neutral gas outflows. Galaxies with strong Na ID absorption are distinguished by enhanced emission line ratios consistent with AGN ionization. We conservatively measure mass outflow rates of 3-100 M☉ yr−1; comparable to or exceeding ionized gas outflow rates measured for galaxies at similar stellar mass and redshift. The outflows from the quenching systems (log(sSFR)[yr−1] ≲ −10) have mass loading factors of 4-360, and the energy and momentum outflow rates exceed the expected injection rates from supernova explosions, suggesting that these galaxies could possibly be caught in a rapid blowout phase powered by the AGN. Our findings suggest that AGN-driven ejection of cold gas may be a dominant mechanism for fast quenching of star formation at z ∼ 2.

AB - We use deep JWST/NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 slit spectra of 113 galaxies at 1.7 < z < 3.5, selected from the mass-complete Blue Jay survey, to investigate the prevalence and typical properties of neutral gas outflows at cosmic noon. We detect excess Na ID absorption (beyond the stellar contribution) in 46 per cent of massive galaxies (log M∗/M☉ > 10), with similar incidence rates in star-forming and quenching systems. Half of the absorption profiles are blueshifted by at least 100 km s−1, providing unambiguous evidence for neutral gas outflows. Galaxies with strong Na ID absorption are distinguished by enhanced emission line ratios consistent with AGN ionization. We conservatively measure mass outflow rates of 3-100 M☉ yr−1; comparable to or exceeding ionized gas outflow rates measured for galaxies at similar stellar mass and redshift. The outflows from the quenching systems (log(sSFR)[yr−1] ≲ −10) have mass loading factors of 4-360, and the energy and momentum outflow rates exceed the expected injection rates from supernova explosions, suggesting that these galaxies could possibly be caught in a rapid blowout phase powered by the AGN. Our findings suggest that AGN-driven ejection of cold gas may be a dominant mechanism for fast quenching of star formation at z ∼ 2.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185399164&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85185399164&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/stae327

DO - 10.1093/mnras/stae327

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85185399164

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 528

SP - 4976

EP - 4992

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 3

ER -

JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ∼ 2 galaxies

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