Unveiling the trends between dust attenuation and galaxy properties at z ~ 2 - 12 with the James Webb Space Telescope

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Markov, V., Gallerani, S., Pallottini, A., Bradac, M., Carniani, S., Tripodi, R., Noirot, G., Di Mascia, F., Parlanti, E., Martis, N.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Markov, V.
Gallerani, S.
Pallottini, A.
Bradac, M.
Carniani, S.
Tripodi, R.
Noirot, G.
Di Mascia, F.
Parlanti, E.
Martis, N.
author_facet Markov, V.
Gallerani, S.
Pallottini, A.
Bradac, M.
Carniani, S.
Tripodi, R.
Noirot, G.
Di Mascia, F.
Parlanti, E.
Martis, N.
contents A variety of dust attenuation/extinction curves have been observed in high-redshift galaxies, with mixed results regarding their correlations with global galaxy properties. These variations are likely driven by factors such as intrinsic dust properties, total dust content, and the dust-star geometry. In this work, we explore how the shape of dust attenuation curves-quantified by the UV-optical slope (S) and UV bump strength (B)-correlates with galaxy properties. Our goal is to identify the key physical mechanisms shaping attenuation curves through cosmic time. We build on arXiv:2402.05996, analyzing 173 dusty galaxies at z ~ 2-11.5, with attenuation curves inferred via SED fitting of JWST data using a modified version of BAGPIPES (arXiv:2304.11178). We investigate trends between S, B, and properties inferred from SED fitting: AV, SFR, stellar mass (M*), specific SFR (sSFR), mass-weighted stellar age (a*), ionization parameter (U), and metallicity (Z). For a subset, we also consider oxygen abundance (12 + log(O/H)), derived via Te-based methods. We find that lower AV galaxies tend to have steeper slopes and stronger UV bumps, consistent with radiative transfer predictions involving dust geometry and content. S also correlates with a* and sSFR, suggesting that strong radiation fields in young, bursty galaxies may destroy small grains, flattening the slope. B correlates with 12 + log(O/H), possibly due to metallicity-driven dust composition changes. Overall, attenuation curve shapes appear most strongly linked to: (1) redshift (dust evolution), (2) AV (RT effects), (3) a* or sSFR (radiation field), and (4) oxygen abundance (dust composition). Disentangling these effects requires spatially resolved data and theoretical models including dust evolution.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_12378
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unveiling the trends between dust attenuation and galaxy properties at z ~ 2 - 12 with the James Webb Space Telescope
Markov, V.
Gallerani, S.
Pallottini, A.
Bradac, M.
Carniani, S.
Tripodi, R.
Noirot, G.
Di Mascia, F.
Parlanti, E.
Martis, N.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
A variety of dust attenuation/extinction curves have been observed in high-redshift galaxies, with mixed results regarding their correlations with global galaxy properties. These variations are likely driven by factors such as intrinsic dust properties, total dust content, and the dust-star geometry. In this work, we explore how the shape of dust attenuation curves-quantified by the UV-optical slope (S) and UV bump strength (B)-correlates with galaxy properties. Our goal is to identify the key physical mechanisms shaping attenuation curves through cosmic time. We build on arXiv:2402.05996, analyzing 173 dusty galaxies at z ~ 2-11.5, with attenuation curves inferred via SED fitting of JWST data using a modified version of BAGPIPES (arXiv:2304.11178). We investigate trends between S, B, and properties inferred from SED fitting: AV, SFR, stellar mass (M*), specific SFR (sSFR), mass-weighted stellar age (a*), ionization parameter (U), and metallicity (Z). For a subset, we also consider oxygen abundance (12 + log(O/H)), derived via Te-based methods. We find that lower AV galaxies tend to have steeper slopes and stronger UV bumps, consistent with radiative transfer predictions involving dust geometry and content. S also correlates with a* and sSFR, suggesting that strong radiation fields in young, bursty galaxies may destroy small grains, flattening the slope. B correlates with 12 + log(O/H), possibly due to metallicity-driven dust composition changes. Overall, attenuation curve shapes appear most strongly linked to: (1) redshift (dust evolution), (2) AV (RT effects), (3) a* or sSFR (radiation field), and (4) oxygen abundance (dust composition). Disentangling these effects requires spatially resolved data and theoretical models including dust evolution.
title Unveiling the trends between dust attenuation and galaxy properties at z ~ 2 - 12 with the James Webb Space Telescope
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.12378