PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field

Rafael Ortiz; Rogier A. Windhorst; Seth H. Cohen; Steven P. Willner; Rolf A. Jansen; Timothy Carleton; Patrick S. Kamieneski; Michael J. Rutkowski; Brent M. Smith; Jake Summers; Cheng Cheng; Dan Coe; Christopher J. Conselice; Jose M. Diego; Simon P. Driver; Jordan C.J. D’Silva; Brenda L. Frye; Hansung B. Gim; Norman A. Grogin; Heidi B. Hammel; Nimish P. Hathi; Benne W. Holwerda; Minhee Hyun; Myungshin Im; William C. Keel; Anton M. Koekemoer; Juno Li; Madeline A. Marshall; Tyler J. McCabe; Noah J. McLeod; Stefanie N. Milam; Rosalia O’Brien; Nor Pirzkal; Aaron S.G. Robotham; Russell E. Ryan; Christopher N.A. Willmer; Haojing Yan; Min S. Yun; Adi Zitrin

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e

PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field

Rafael Ortiz, Rogier A. Windhorst, Seth H. Cohen, Steven P. Willner, Rolf A. Jansen, Timothy Carleton, Patrick S. Kamieneski, Michael J. Rutkowski, Brent M. Smith, Jake Summers, Cheng Cheng, Dan Coe, Christopher J. Conselice, Jose M. Diego, Simon P. Driver, Jordan C.J. D’Silva, Brenda L. Frye, Hansung B. Gim, Norman A. Grogin, Heidi B. HammelNimish P. Hathi, Benne W. Holwerda, Minhee Hyun, Myungshin Im, William C. Keel, Anton M. Koekemoer, Juno Li, Madeline A. Marshall, Tyler J. McCabe, Noah J. McLeod, Stefanie N. Milam, Rosalia O’Brien, Nor Pirzkal, Aaron S.G. Robotham, Russell E. Ryan, Christopher N.A. Willmer, Haojing Yan, Min S. Yun, Adi Zitrin

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The first public 0.9-4.4 μm NIRCam images of the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field uncovered galaxies displaying point-source features in their cores as seen in the longer-wavelength filters. We visually identified a sample of 66 galaxies (∼1 galaxy arcmin^-2) with pointlike cores and have modeled their two-dimensional light profiles with GalFit, identifying 16 galactic nuclei with measurable point-source components. GalFit suggests that the visual sample is a mix of both compact stellar bulge and point-source galaxy cores. This core classification is complemented by spectral energy distribution modeling to infer the sample’s active galactic nucleus (AGN) and host-galaxy parameters. For galaxies with measurable point-source components, the median fractional AGN contribution to their 0.1-30.0 μm flux is 0.44, and 14/16 are color-classified AGN. We conclude that near-infrared point-source galaxy cores are signatures of AGN. In addition, we define an automated sample-selection criterion to identify these point-source features. This criterion can be used in other extant and future NIRCam images to streamline the search for galaxies with unresolved IR-luminous AGN. The James Webb Space Telescope’s superb angular resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths are resurrecting the morphological identification of AGN.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	258
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	974
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e
State	Published - Oct 1 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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Ortiz, R., Windhorst, R. A., Cohen, S. H., Willner, S. P., Jansen, R. A., Carleton, T., Kamieneski, P. S., Rutkowski, M. J., Smith, B. M., Summers, J., Cheng, C., Coe, D., Conselice, C. J., Diego, J. M., Driver, S. P., D’Silva, J. C. J., Frye, B. L., Gim, H. B., Grogin, N. A., ... Zitrin, A. (2024). PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field. Astrophysical Journal, 974(2), Article 258. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e

Ortiz, R, Windhorst, RA, Cohen, SH, Willner, SP, Jansen, RA, Carleton, T, Kamieneski, PS, Rutkowski, MJ, Smith, BM, Summers, J, Cheng, C, Coe, D, Conselice, CJ, Diego, JM, Driver, SP, D’Silva, JCJ, Frye, BL, Gim, HB, Grogin, NA, Hammel, HB, Hathi, NP, Holwerda, BW, Hyun, M, Im, M, Keel, WC, Koekemoer, AM, Li, J, Marshall, MA, McCabe, TJ, McLeod, NJ, Milam, SN, O’Brien, R, Pirzkal, N, Robotham, ASG, Ryan, RE, Willmer, CNA, Yan, H, Yun, MS & Zitrin, A 2024, 'PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 974, no. 2, 258. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e

@article{76b4babd55544f3e8d996fff613280f8,

title = "PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field",

abstract = "The first public 0.9-4.4 μm NIRCam images of the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field uncovered galaxies displaying point-source features in their cores as seen in the longer-wavelength filters. We visually identified a sample of 66 galaxies (∼1 galaxy arcmin-2) with pointlike cores and have modeled their two-dimensional light profiles with GalFit, identifying 16 galactic nuclei with measurable point-source components. GalFit suggests that the visual sample is a mix of both compact stellar bulge and point-source galaxy cores. This core classification is complemented by spectral energy distribution modeling to infer the sample{\textquoteright}s active galactic nucleus (AGN) and host-galaxy parameters. For galaxies with measurable point-source components, the median fractional AGN contribution to their 0.1-30.0 μm flux is 0.44, and 14/16 are color-classified AGN. We conclude that near-infrared point-source galaxy cores are signatures of AGN. In addition, we define an automated sample-selection criterion to identify these point-source features. This criterion can be used in other extant and future NIRCam images to streamline the search for galaxies with unresolved IR-luminous AGN. The James Webb Space Telescope{\textquoteright}s superb angular resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths are resurrecting the morphological identification of AGN.",

author = "Rafael Ortiz and Windhorst, {Rogier A.} and Cohen, {Seth H.} and Willner, {Steven P.} and Jansen, {Rolf A.} and Timothy Carleton and Kamieneski, {Patrick S.} and Rutkowski, {Michael J.} and Smith, {Brent M.} and Jake Summers and Cheng Cheng and Dan Coe and Conselice, {Christopher J.} and Diego, {Jose M.} and Driver, {Simon P.} and D{\textquoteright}Silva, {Jordan C.J.} and Frye, {Brenda L.} and Gim, {Hansung B.} and Grogin, {Norman A.} and Hammel, {Heidi B.} and Hathi, {Nimish P.} and Holwerda, {Benne W.} and Minhee Hyun and Myungshin Im and Keel, {William C.} and Koekemoer, {Anton M.} and Juno Li and Marshall, {Madeline A.} and McCabe, {Tyler J.} and McLeod, {Noah J.} and Milam, {Stefanie N.} and Rosalia O{\textquoteright}Brien and Nor Pirzkal and Robotham, {Aaron S.G.} and Ryan, {Russell E.} and Willmer, {Christopher N.A.} and Haojing Yan and Yun, {Min S.} and Adi Zitrin",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",

year = "2024",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "974",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - PEARLS

T2 - Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field

AU - Ortiz, Rafael

AU - Windhorst, Rogier A.

AU - Cohen, Seth H.

AU - Willner, Steven P.

AU - Jansen, Rolf A.

AU - Carleton, Timothy

AU - Kamieneski, Patrick S.

AU - Rutkowski, Michael J.

AU - Smith, Brent M.

AU - Summers, Jake

AU - Cheng, Cheng

AU - Coe, Dan

AU - Conselice, Christopher J.

AU - Diego, Jose M.

AU - Driver, Simon P.

AU - D’Silva, Jordan C.J.

AU - Frye, Brenda L.

AU - Gim, Hansung B.

AU - Grogin, Norman A.

AU - Hammel, Heidi B.

AU - Hathi, Nimish P.

AU - Holwerda, Benne W.

AU - Hyun, Minhee

AU - Im, Myungshin

AU - Keel, William C.

AU - Koekemoer, Anton M.

AU - Li, Juno

AU - Marshall, Madeline A.

AU - McCabe, Tyler J.

AU - McLeod, Noah J.

AU - Milam, Stefanie N.

AU - O’Brien, Rosalia

AU - Pirzkal, Nor

AU - Robotham, Aaron S.G.

AU - Ryan, Russell E.

AU - Willmer, Christopher N.A.

AU - Yan, Haojing

AU - Yun, Min S.

AU - Zitrin, Adi

PY - 2024/10/1

Y1 - 2024/10/1

N2 - The first public 0.9-4.4 μm NIRCam images of the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field uncovered galaxies displaying point-source features in their cores as seen in the longer-wavelength filters. We visually identified a sample of 66 galaxies (∼1 galaxy arcmin-2) with pointlike cores and have modeled their two-dimensional light profiles with GalFit, identifying 16 galactic nuclei with measurable point-source components. GalFit suggests that the visual sample is a mix of both compact stellar bulge and point-source galaxy cores. This core classification is complemented by spectral energy distribution modeling to infer the sample’s active galactic nucleus (AGN) and host-galaxy parameters. For galaxies with measurable point-source components, the median fractional AGN contribution to their 0.1-30.0 μm flux is 0.44, and 14/16 are color-classified AGN. We conclude that near-infrared point-source galaxy cores are signatures of AGN. In addition, we define an automated sample-selection criterion to identify these point-source features. This criterion can be used in other extant and future NIRCam images to streamline the search for galaxies with unresolved IR-luminous AGN. The James Webb Space Telescope’s superb angular resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths are resurrecting the morphological identification of AGN.

AB - The first public 0.9-4.4 μm NIRCam images of the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field uncovered galaxies displaying point-source features in their cores as seen in the longer-wavelength filters. We visually identified a sample of 66 galaxies (∼1 galaxy arcmin-2) with pointlike cores and have modeled their two-dimensional light profiles with GalFit, identifying 16 galactic nuclei with measurable point-source components. GalFit suggests that the visual sample is a mix of both compact stellar bulge and point-source galaxy cores. This core classification is complemented by spectral energy distribution modeling to infer the sample’s active galactic nucleus (AGN) and host-galaxy parameters. For galaxies with measurable point-source components, the median fractional AGN contribution to their 0.1-30.0 μm flux is 0.44, and 14/16 are color-classified AGN. We conclude that near-infrared point-source galaxy cores are signatures of AGN. In addition, we define an automated sample-selection criterion to identify these point-source features. This criterion can be used in other extant and future NIRCam images to streamline the search for galaxies with unresolved IR-luminous AGN. The James Webb Space Telescope’s superb angular resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths are resurrecting the morphological identification of AGN.

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U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ad6d5e

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85207720009

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 974

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

M1 - 258

ER -

PEARLS: Discovery of Point-source Features within Galaxies in the North Ecliptic Pole Time Domain Field

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