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  • A Diverse Population of z ∼...
    Huang, J.-S.; Li, Zi-Jian; Cheng, Cheng; Hou, Meicun; Yan, Haojing; Willner, S. P.; Dai, Y.-S.; Zheng, X. Z.; Pan, J.; Rigopoulou, D.; Wang, T.; Li, Zhiyuan; Liang, Piaoran; Esamdin, A.; Fazio, G. G.

    The Astrophysical journal, 06/2023, Letnik: 949, Številka: 2
    Journal Article

    Abstract Four ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) observed with JWST/NIRcam in the Cosmos Evolution Early Release Science program offer an unbiased preview of the z ∼ 2 ULIRG population. The objects were originally selected at 24 μ m and have strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features observed with Spitzer/Infrared Spectrometer. The four objects have similar stellar masses of ∼10 11 M ⊙ but otherwise are quite diverse. One is an isolated disk galaxy, but it has an active nucleus as shown by X-ray observations and by a bright point-source nucleus. Two others are merging pairs with mass ratios of 6–7:1. One has active nuclei in both components, while the other has only one active nucleus: the one in the less-massive neighbor, not the ULIRG. The fourth object is clumpy and irregular and is probably a merger, but there is no sign of an active nucleus. The intrinsic spectral energy distributions for the four active galactic nuclei in these systems are typical of type-2 QSOs. This study is consistent with the idea that even if internal processes can produce large luminosities at z ∼ 2, galaxy merging may still be necessary for the most luminous objects. The diversity of these four initial examples suggests that large samples will be needed to understand the z ∼ 2 ULIRG population.