JWST Confirms Pristine Gas Near GN-z11, Hints at Population III Stars

This study reports the detection of ionized hydrogen (Hγ4342) with S/N=5.9 in a region about 3 pkpc (projected) North-East from the z~10.6 galaxy GN-z11, where line emission compatible with doubly ionized helium (HeII1640) had been found. The new JWST/NIRSpec-IFS G395H data confirm the authenticity of the previous detection, at a redshift of zHγ=10.5862±0.0003. No metal lines are detected in the observations spanning λrest=0.25-0.45μm. A 3σ upper limit on the gas phase metallicity of 12+log(O/H)<6.96 (Zgas<0.019 Z⊙) is derived. Comparison with NIRCam imaging constrains a lower limit on the equivalent width of EW0(Hγ)>350Å. The emission line constraints are compatible with photoionization by PopIII stars, possibly intermixed with next-generation (PopII) stars. An upper limit on the dynamical mass of Mdyn≲3×10^8M⊙ is inferred. The data provide novel support for the presence of PopIII stars nearby GN-z11, 440 Myr after the Big Bang. The implications of this research are significant for understanding the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early universe. The detection of pristine gas and evidence for Population III stars provides valuable insights into the conditions that prevailed during the reionization epoch and the role of these early stars in seeding the universe with heavier elements. Future observations with JWST and other advanced telescopes will likely further refine our understanding of the properties and distribution of Population III stars and their impact on the evolution of the cosmos.

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