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Yuichi Harikane

Publications and source records attributed to Yuichi Harikane.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

EMBER: A Little Red Dot Candidate at $z_{\rm spec}=10.36$ in the Seed Black Hole Era

Little red dots (LRDs) are a newly discovered population that may trace rapidly growing black holes (BHs) and provide a link between seed BHs and luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs). However, no LRD had previously been spectroscopically confirmed at $z>10$, leaving this earliest phase observationally unexplored. Using JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy from the EMBER program, we measure a spectroscopic redshift of $z_{\rm spec}=10.361^{+0.003}_{-0.002}$ for \target, the highest-redshift LRD candidate known to date. The redshift is constrained by a prominent Ly$α$ break and multiple tentative emission lines, including C\,{\sc iv}\,$λ\lambda1549,1551$ and [O\,{\sc iii}]\,$\lambda4363$ detected at $S/N=3.9$ and $3.6$, respectively. Its extreme NIRCam-MIRI color of $m_{\rm F444W}-m_{\rm F770W}=1.82\pm0.1$, characteristic V-shaped continuum with a turnover near the Balmer limit, and continuum slopes of $β_{\rm UV}=-2.26^{+0.11}_{-0.11}$ and $β_{\rm opt}=1.17^{+0.74}_{-0.70}$ all support its LRD nature. A possible iron complex at $λ_{\rm rest}\sim0.24$--$0.25\,{\rm μm}$ and a possibly high $\log\left([{\rm O\,III]\,\lambda4363/\rm Hγ}\right)=0.17^{+0.24}_{-0.22}$ further support an AGN-like interpretation, as seen in previously known LRDs. Tentative detection of Ly$α$ emission may indicate enhanced Ly$α$ transmission at $z\sim10$. Our findings extend the observational frontier of BH growth into the seed-BH formation era, and upcoming MIRI spectroscopy will further establish the physical nature of the source.

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SAPPHIRES: Extremely Metal-Poor Galaxy Candidates with $12+{\rm log(O/H)}<7.0$ at $z\sim5-7$ from Deep JWST/NIRCam Grism Observations

Population III stars, the hypothetical first generation metal-free stars, have yet to be discovered. Even after three years of successful JWST operations, studies have shown that most galaxies identified to date at $z > 5$ exhibit a metallicity floor of $Z\gtrsim2\%\,Z_{\odot}$, possibly due to unknown selection biases toward bright galaxies or rapid metal enrichment. To address this question, we search for galaxies with low ${\rm R3=[OIII]}\lambda5008/{\rm H}β$ ratios as part of the JWST Cycle-3 large treasury program, the Slitless Areal Pure-Parallel HIgh-Redshift Emission Survey (SAPPHIRES). Using deep NIRCam Wide-Field Slitless Spectrscopy (WFSS) data, we report the discovery of seven extremely metal-poor galaxy candidates in the SAPPHIRES Early Data Release field, with estimated $12+{\rm log(O/H)}<7.0$ at $z\sim5-7$, including three sources with $12+{\rm log(O/H)}<6.7$ ($Z<1\%\,Z_{\odot}$), significantly breaking the metallicity floor observed both locally and at high redshift. These candidates appear extremely faint ($\sim28-30\,$ F200W AB mag) and low-mass (${\rm log}(M_{*}/M_{\odot})\sim6.8-7.8$), as expected from the mass-metallicity relation. They also exhibit very blue UV slopes ($-2.8\lesssimβ\lesssim-1.7$), likely due to low dust content $A_{V}\lesssim0.2\,{\rm mag}$ or young stellar ages $\sim5-20\,{\rm Myr}$. Compared to galaxies at similar redshift, they appear exceptionally bursty in their star formation activity. Our results highlight the power of NIRCam/WFSS in identifying extremely metal-poor galaxies, from just a single pointing, with more data to come in SAPPHIRES. This underscores the potential of pure-parallel programs towards achieving JWST's primary science goal: discovering the first pristine stars and galaxies. Deep JWST/NIRSpec follow-up observations will also be essential to confirm their nature and perform detailed chemical abundance analyses.

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PRISMS GHZ8: Evidence for a Young Burst and Potential Merger Activity at z=10.23

UV-bright galaxies in the early Universe provide important constraints on the rapid build-up of stellar mass and the sources responsible for cosmic reionization. However, the physical processes that drive their high UV luminosities remain unclear. Here we report JWST/MIRI LRS spectroscopy of GHZ8, a UV-bright galaxy at z=10.23 with a magnification $μ=1.23$. The spectrum shows a $\sim 5σ$ detection for the $\rm Hβ$-[OIII] complex and $\sim 4σ$ for $\rm Hα$ line, with fluxes of $3.2\pm0.9\times10^{-18}$ and $\rm 1.7\pm0.4\times10^{-18}\,erg\,s^{-1}\,cm^{-2}$, respectively. Based on JWST/NIRCam imaging, we find that GHZ8 consists of two components separated only by 0.16" ($\approx600$ pc): a bright, extended main component and a faint, compact southeastern clump, hereafter referred to as GHZ8-main and GHZ8-SE. Through morphological decomposition, we find demagnified $M_{UV}=-19.91\pm0.10$ and $-18.03\pm0.15$ mag for GHZ8-main and GHZ8-SE, with blue UV slopes of $β_{UV}=-2.53\pm0.22$ and $-3.45\pm0.49$, respectively, indicating that both components host young stellar populations. In particular, the extremely blue UV continuum of GHZ8-SE requires an extremely young, ISM-poor stellar population with a high ionizing photon escape fraction, $f_{esc}= 0.6-1.0$. Combining the UV and $\rm Hα$ luminosities with the results from the spectro-photometric SED fitting, we constrain the star-formation activity of GHZ8-main, and find either a recent, short-lived burst of star formation that is now in its final phases, or continuous star formation over a relatively short period ($<50\,{\rm Myr}$). GHZ8 therefore provides observational evidence for bursty star formation in a UV-bright galaxy. Globally, GHZ8 may be undergoing a merger-induced starburst, although deeper imaging or spatially resolved kinematic information is required for a more definitive interpretation.

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SN Helios: A Multiply Imaged Type II Supernova Opening Time-Delay Cosmography beyond redshift of 3

We report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of SN Helios, a strongly lensed, multiply imaged Type II supernova (SN) at $z=3.34$ behind the galaxy cluster RXC J0018.5+1626. The transient was identified as a red F150W-dropout source (F277W = 26.1 mag) in JWST/NIRCam imaging taken on 2026 July 3 for the VENUS survey, with no counterpart in 2024 December imaging. Director's Discretionary Time observations on 2026 August 17 added second-epoch NIRCam imaging and a deep NIRSpec prism spectrum. The spectrum shows a strong, spectrally resolved H$α$ emission line (FWHM $\approx 7900$ km/s) with a P-Cygni absorption blueshifted by 8800 km/s, together with corresponding H$β$ and He I $λ$10830 features, establishing a hydrogen-rich photosphere at $z=3.34$. Template fits classify SN Helios as a Type II SN, and light-curve comparisons with well-studied local SNe II yield a phase of $27.5\pm2.8$ rest-frame days past B-band maximum. Independent cluster lens models magnify the observed image by $μ\approx 10$-20 and predict another image within $\simeq 2$-6 yr, offering a rare opportunity for a time-delay measurement of $H_{0}$ with a source at $z>3$. The host galaxy is undetected in deep rest-frame ultraviolet and optical imaging, in emission lines, and in ALMA 2 mm dust continuum, leaving a heavily obscured counterpart unlikely. Its de-lensed $M_{\rm UV}\gtrsim -13$ places it far below blank-field limits and adds support to an elevated core-collapse rate per unit star formation in ultra-faint galaxies. Without the multi-epoch data, SN Helios would masquerade as a convincing $z\approx 16$ Lyman-break galaxy, with galaxy-template fits strongly disfavoring any low-redshift solution even with multiple medium bands. Its spectrum thus provides an empirical SED template with which high-redshift searches can vet similar dropout candidates.

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PRISMS/U13151. A Glimpse into the Earliest Phases of Galaxy Formation through an Ultra-Faint System $\approx$ 500 Myr after the Big Bang

Detailed UV-to-optical studies of galaxies at z >= 10 have largely focused on bright systems (MUV <= -20 mag), leaving intrinsically faint galaxies virtually unexplored to date. Combining NIRCam, NIRSpec, and MIRI imaging and spectroscopy, we investigate UNCOVER-ABELL2744-13151 (U13151), an ultra-faint galaxy at z = 9.7995 (MUV = -17.44 mag), magnified by Abell 2744 ($μ$ = 12.8). U13151 is very blue ($β$ ~ -2.64), ultra-low mass (log10(M*/Msun) ~ 6.68), young (~ 5.5 Myr), metal-poor (Z ~ 3-6% Zsun), and compact (Re ~ 122 pc). It exhibits negligible dust attenuation, extreme ionization conditions, and intense star formation (sSFR(Ha) ~ 94 Gyr-1, or equivalently M*/SFR(Ha) ~ 10.6 Myr). Despite similarities with much brighter galaxies, its low C/O, approximately solar Ne/O, and undetected nitrogen emission suggest enrichment dominated by core-collapse supernovae, in stark contrast with similar nitrogen-enhanced systems. U13151 might be undergoing its first major episode of star formation, assembling most (if not all) of its M* through five unresolved clumps. Its high ionizing photon production efficiency (log10($ξ_{\rm ion}$/ (Hz erg-1)) ~ 25.64) suggests, through a simple toy model, suggests, through a simple toy model, that similarly short-lived episodes could contribute significantly to the ionizing photon budget of low-mass galaxies during Cosmic Reionization. We explore different evolutionary scenarios, from U13151-like galaxies potentially representing the progenitors of Blue Monsters at higher redshifts to the possibility that such systems could be the early building blocks of present-day Milky Way-like galaxies. Our results highlight the fundamental role of MIRI in studying galaxies in the early Universe and the urgent need to investigate the faintest, lowest-mass systems to shed light on the fundamental physics driving the earliest phases of galaxy formation.

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Can Blue UV-Bright Galaxies Drive Reionization at Cosmic Dawn? An $M_{\rm UV}=-19.6$ Galaxy with $f_{\rm esc}\approx0.85$ at $z=9.244$

We revisit EBG-1, a gravitationally lensed galaxy at $z = 9.244$, using newly obtained deep (14 hr) JWST/NIRSpec G235M ($R \sim 1000$) spectroscopy. EBG-1 is one of the bluest galaxies observed at $z > 9$. Along with its remarkably blue continuum of $β= -2.99 \pm 0.15$, we find very weak nebular emission from EBG-1. We obtain a $3σ$ upper limit of EW $< 8.4$ Angstrom for C III], a marginal H$β$ measurement (EW $= 256.2 \pm 122.2$ Angstrom), and a $5σ$ detection of [O III] $λ5007$ (EW $= 882.8 \pm 180.6$ Angstrom). These lines suggest an oxygen abundance of $12 + \log(\mathrm{O/H}) = 7.16 \pm 0.25$ ($\simeq 3\% Z_{\odot}$) and $\log(\mathrm{C/O}) < -0.88$ ($3σ$), placing EBG-1 on the C/O-metallicity sequence traced by lower-redshift galaxies. To constrain the escape fraction ($f_{\rm esc}$), we compare the observed UV slope and emission-line equivalent widths with synthetic spectra generated using BEAGLE. The models favor $f_{\rm esc} \gtrsim 0.75$, with $f_{\rm esc} \approx 0.85$ providing the best overall agreement with the observations. These results suggest that relatively UV-bright galaxies like EBG-1 can achieve the exceptionally high ionizing efficiencies supported by late reionization scenarios.

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ATLAS. III. Dust Around Little Red Dots: Hydrogen Line Ratios beyond Dust-free Non-Case B Models

We investigate broad hydrogen line ratios in little red dots (LRDs) using five high-redshift ($z>2$) sources from JWST/NIRSpec medium/high-resolution spectra in the DAWN JWST Archive and fifteen low-redshift sources ($z=0.1$--$0.9$) from the literature, all with broad H$β$ detected at $>5σ$. After carefully measuring the broad-line fluxes while accounting for absorption features and neighboring emission lines, we find that the broad H$α$/H$β$ ratios are very high, ranging from 6 to 30, well above the Case B recombination value. Using plane-parallel \textsc{Cloudy} photoionization models with the total line emission from both sides of the slab, we investigate the physical origin of the broad hydrogen line ratios beyond Case B, jointly modeling the Balmer and Paschen line ratios for the subset of one high-$z$ and two low-$z$ LRDs with detected broad Paschen lines. We find that one low-$z$ LRD is reproduced by a high gas number density ($\log (n_{\mathrm H}/{\rm cm^{-3}})\sim10$--11) on the broad-line H$α$/H$β$--Pa$β$/Pa$γ$ plane, whereas the remaining two LRDs additionally require substantial dust extinction of $E(B-V)\gtrsim0.2$, even after accounting for non-Case B effects. Since the narrow H$α$/H$β$ ratios do not indicate such large dust extinction, these results demonstrate that the obscuring dust is spatially associated with the broad-line region. Even without Paschen-line measurements, two and eight LRDs in the high- and low-redshift samples, respectively, exhibit H$α$/H$β>13$, which cannot be reproduced by the non-Case B models, suggesting that dust obscuration might be common among LRDs, occurring in at least about half of the population. Such dust may represent a lower-column-density counterpart of the dusty torus in AGNs, reconciling the weak hot-dust emission.

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GREX-PLUS Science Book v2

GREX-PLUS (Galaxy Reionization EXplorer and PLanetary Universe Spectrometer) is a mission candidate for a JAXA strategic L-class mission to be launched in the 2030s. Its primary science goals are two-fold: galaxy formation and evolution, and planetary system formation and evolution. The GREX-PLUS spacecraft will carry a telescope with a 1 m primary mirror aperture cooled down to 50 K. The two science instruments will be onboard: a wide-field camera in the 2--8 $μ$m wavelength band and a high-resolution spectrometer with a wavelength resolution of 30,000 in the 10--18 $μ$m band. The GREX-PLUS wide-field camera aims to detect the first generation of galaxies at redshift $z>15$. The GREX-PLUS high-resolution spectrometer aims to identify the location of the water ``snowline'' in protoplanetary disks. Both instruments will provide unique datasets for a broad range of scientific topics, including galaxy mass assembly, the origin of supermassive blackholes, infrared background radiation, molecular spectroscopy in the interstellar medium, transit spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres, planetary atmospheres in the Solar System, and so on. This document is the second version of a collection of scientific themes that can be achieved with GREX-PLUS. Each section in Chapters~2 and 3 is based on presentations at several GREX-PLUS Science Workshops.

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Spatially Resolved Physical Properties of Young Star Clusters and Star-forming Clumps in the Brightest z>6 Galaxy, the Strongly Lensed Cosmic Spear at z=6.2

We present spatially resolved analysis of stellar populations in the brightest $z>6$ galaxy known to date (AB mag 23), the strongly lensed MACS0308$-$zD1 (dubbed the ``Cosmic Spear'') at $z_{\rm spec}=6.2$. New JWST NIRCam imaging and high-resolution NIRSpec IFU spectroscopy span the rest-frame ultraviolet to optical. The NIRCam imaging reveals bright star-forming clumps and a tail consisting of three distinct, extremely compact star clusters that are multiply-imaged by gravitational lensing. The star clusters have delensed effective radii of $R_{\rm{eff}} \lesssim 8$ pc, stellar masses of $M_{*} \sim 10^{6}-10^{7}\,M_{\odot}$, and high stellar mass surface densities of $Σ_{*} \gtrsim 2\times 10^{4}\,M_{\odot}~\rm{pc}^{-2}$. While their stellar populations are very young ($\sim 6-11$ Myr), their dynamical ages exceed unity, consistent with the clusters being gravitationally bound systems. Placing the star clusters in the size vs.~stellar mass density plane, we find they occupy a region similar to other high-redshift star clusters within galaxies observed recently with JWST, being significantly more massive and denser than local star clusters. Spatially resolved analysis of the brightest clump reveals a compact, intensely star-forming core. The ionizing photon production efficiency ($ξ_{\rm{ion}}$) is slightly suppressed in this central region, potentially indicating a locally elevated Lyman continuum escape fraction facilitated by feedback-driven channels.

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Free-Free Radio Emission from Little Red Dots as a Probe of Ionized Gas

Recent studies have hypothesized that little red dots (LRDs) are rapidly accreting black holes surrounded by dense gaseous environments. Both neutral and ionized gas play a key role in explaining many of the puzzling spectral features of LRDs, including the emission line profiles in the optical-infrared bands, although the physical conditions required for these gas components remain poorly constrained. We propose that free-free emission provides a robust, independent probe of ionized gas in LRDs. Free-free self-absorption produces a characteristic spectral turnover whose critical frequency and luminosity depend on the electron column density and the characteristic size of the ionized region, such that radio observations simultaneously constrain both quantities. The spectral slope at frequencies below the turnover further probes the radial density distribution on spatial scales far below those achievable by current and future optical-infrared observatories. We also present predicted free-free spectral energy distributions for two representative LRDs in the local and high-redshift universe and show that future radio-to-millimeter observations with ALMA and ngVLA can probe the range of ionized-gas parameters inferred from current observations. Free-free emission therefore offers a unique way to probe the geometry and physical conditions of the ionized gas surrounding LRDs.

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PRISMS. GHZ1. A standard tale of galaxy evolution with atypical ionizing conditions at $z=9.878$

[Abridged] The first operating years of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed a surprising number of $z \gtrsim 10$ UV-bright objects, many of them characterized by their compactness, anomalous chemical abundance patterns and complex ISM physics (e.g. N-enhanced systems). To assess whether these objects are a phase of early galaxy evolution or a peculiar population, it is essential to understand the physics of systems without anomalous abundance patterns in this epoch. We present a detailed analysis of GHZ1 ($z=9.878$), a moderately ($μ= 1.715$) lensed UV-bright ($M_{UV} = -20.07$) galaxy in the Abell2744 field, characterized by an extended size ($R_{e} \sim 410$ pc). These properties, which contrast with the properties of many of the N-enhanced galaxies, make GHZ1 an excellent laboratory to assess what are the major drivers of early galaxy evolution and the origin of the differences. By means of JWST spectroscopic observations from NIRSpec (PRISM-CLEAR configuration) and the MIR/LRS, we analyzed the full UV and optical emission from GHZ1. We used a spectro-photometric SED fitting to characterize the stellar evolution and the emission line spectra to constrain its chemical enrichment. We find that GHZ1 is among the most massive systems at $z\sim 10$ (log(M$_{\star}$ [M$_{\odot}$]) = 9.17$_{-0.26}^{+0.27}$), with a moderate amount of dust attenuation ($A_{V} = 0.21_{-0.12}^{+0.12}$~mag) and ongoing star formation (with a median SFR $= 8.75_{-1.72}^{+1.71}$ M$_{\odot}\cdot$yr$^{-1}$ over the last 10 Myr). Its chemical enrichment patterns (12+log(O/H) = $7.81_{-0.11}^{+0.12}$, log(C/O) = $-0.66_{-0.13}^{+0.13}$, log(N/O)$< -1.04$) are consistent with a standard evolution dominated by primary production from massive stars. We also derive an H$α$/H$β$ Balmer ratio below Case B predictions. We speculate that [...].

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The Roman eXtreme Deep Field (RXDF)

The Roman eXtreme Deep Field (RXDF) program is one of the five General Astrophysics Survey (GAS) programs approved for observing time with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in Cycles 1 and 2. It has been allocated 386.41 hours to carry out an imaging survey to AB = 30 mag (5-sigma) over ~140x larger area than the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (HXDF) full-depth area (ACS+WFC3/IR). The RXDF will cover the full Roman wavelength range with 7 bands, reaching AB = 30 mag in RZYJH, 29 mag in F, and 28 mag in K, over a full-depth area of 678.75 arcmin^2 embedded in a total area of 1,243 arcmin^2, and far exceeding the depths of the Roman Core Community Surveys (CCS). The RXDF is within the Euclid Ultra Deep Field (EUDF) near the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP), a strategic long-term field for generational space facilities, with a wealth of multi-wavelength data including extensive coverage from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NEXUS Treasury program. The observations will cover 3 epochs at a 1-year cadence, each epoch divided into 3 sub-epochs ~10 days apart, enabling time-domain studies on time baselines from ~10 days to over ~2 years. The RXDF is uniquely positioned to address critical questions in reionization, large scale structure (LSS), growth of supermassive black holes (SMBHs), little red dots (LRDs), and high-z supernovae (SNe); the volumes probed by HST+JWST are too small at these extreme depths, and even the deepest CCS tiers are too shallow. In addition to our key objectives, a wealth of additional science will be enabled by engaging the community with our rapidly released datasets, revolutionizing a wide range of science for a lasting legacy. This short document, which is converted from the approved RXDF proposal, aims to provide the community with a summary of the program.

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SERENADE III: Insight into the Origin of the High Dust Temperature and High [O III]/[C II] Ratio at $z\gtrsim6$

We present an analysis of ALMA high-frequency observations of nine bright Lyman-break galaxies at $5.8<z_{\rm spec}<8.3$. Our sample consists of five galaxies at $z\sim6$ newly observed in Band-9 and/or 10, allowing us to better constrain the dust temperature ($T_{\rm dust}$) in a statistical sample of $z\gtrsim6$ galaxies. Our measurements of the dust temperature at $z\sim6-9$ suggest most of the star-forming galaxies show $T_{\rm dust}\sim40\,{\rm K}$ on average, whereas three galaxies show significantly higher $T_{\rm dust}$ ($\gtrsim60\,{\rm K}$). We find a potential negative correlation between $T_{\rm dust}$ and gas-phase metallicity with $T_{\rm dust}\propto Z^{-0.50\pm0.19}$, implying decreased dust shielding and efficient dust heating in low-metallicity environments. Given the systematic offset of $T_{\rm dust}$ between $z\sim0$ and $z\sim6-9$ at fixed metallicity, we find $T_{\rm dust}$ is well described by sSFR as well as $Z$ with $\log T_{\rm dust}=-0.25^{+0.03}_{-0.04}\times(\log Z-0.57\times\log {\rm sSFR})+4.88^{+0.47}_{-0.43}$ across $z\sim0$ to $z\sim6-9$. Simultaneously with the dust continuum, these observations cover the [OI]63$μ$m emission line for five galaxies, which traces dense neutral gas. We find a lower [CII]/[OI] ratio in $z\gtrsim6$ galaxies than in local samples, suggesting that [CII] becomes fainter due to collisional de-excitation at high gas density. Combining the [OI], [OIII], and [CII] lines and cloudy modeling, our results imply $\log U_{\rm ion}\sim-2$ and $\log n_{\rm H}\,[{\rm cm}^{-3}]\sim2.5$ in $z\gtrsim6$ galaxies, which is $\sim3-10\times$ higher $U_{\rm ion}$ and $\sim2-3\times$ higher $n_{\rm H}$ than the local samples. The combination of these enhanced $U_{\rm ion}$ and $n_{\rm H}$ naturally explains the high [OIII]/[CII] ratio at $z\gtrsim6$.

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ATLAS. I. A Scaling Relation of LRDs between Broad H$α$ and Bolometric Luminosities: Enhanced Broad H$α$ Emission Relative to Low-$z$ Type 1 AGN

We investigate the demography of little red dots (LRDs) using 37 objects at $z\sim3$-$7$ with JWST/NIRSpec PRISM and grating spectra compiled from various JWST programs. We focus on spectroscopic quantities of the broad H$α$ luminosity $L_\mathrm{Hα,broad}$ (and the broad H$β$ luminosity $L_\mathrm{Hβ,broad}$ where available) and the bolometric luminosity $L_\mathrm{bol}$ represented by modified blackbody emission, avoiding quantities contaminated by host-galaxy emission (e.g., total H$α$ luminosity). We identifiy a tight scaling relation between $L_\mathrm{Hα,broad}$ and $L_\mathrm{bol}$, supporting the interpretation that these emissions are primarily powered by the central engine. Interestingly, the $L_\mathrm{Hα,broad}$-$L_\mathrm{bol}$ scaling relation of LRDs is enhanced by a factor of $\sim40$ in $L_\mathrm{Hα,broad}$ relative to that of low-$z$ Type 1 AGN. A similar trend is found in the $L_\mathrm{Hβ,broad}$-$L_\mathrm{bol}$ relation, although the enhancement in $L_\mathrm{Hβ,broad}$ is smaller, only by a factor of $\sim10$. We explore the physical origin of these enhancements and find that \textsc{Cloudy} photoionization modeling within the classic locally optimally-emitting cloud (LOC) framework can explain them through an increase in the covering factor from $\sim20$\% (Type 1 AGN) to $\sim100$\% (LRDs), together with an increase in the hydrogen column density from $N_\mathrm{H}\sim10^{23}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$ to $\gtrsim10^{24}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$, with a preferred gas density of $\sim10^{10}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-3}$, successfully reproducing the modified blackbody emission. Such a nearly unity covering factor without requiring a gas density increase may result from a significant increase in the BLR filling factor or size, corresponding to a ``stuffed BLR" or ``giant BLR," respectively.

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ATLAS. IV. A JWST+MUSE Demographic Study of Ly$α$ Profiles in Little Red Dots

We present an initial demographic study of Ly$α$ profiles in little red dots (LRDs) at $z=3$--9 using $R\sim1000$--4000 spectroscopy. Our sample consists of 8 LRDs observed in the VLT/MUSE Deep and Wide surveys and 23 LRDs observed with JWST/NIRSpec grating spectroscopy from JADES, CANUCS, and GO programs including SPURS. We identify Ly$α$ emission in 5 MUSE LRDs and 9 JWST LRDs. Only two of them exhibit broad Ly$α$ emission (FWHM $>1000\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$), both reported previously. The other Ly$α$-emitting LRDs show narrow Ly$α$ emission (FWHM $<1000\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$), with FWHMs mostly in the range 300--600 $\mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$, comparable to or slightly larger than those of high-redshift star-forming galaxies (100--500 $\mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$). We measure the fraction of broad Ly$α$ emitters above a broad Ly$α$ luminosity threshold of $L_{\mathrm{Ly}α,\mathrm{broad}}=10^{42}\ \mathrm{erg\ s^{-1}}$, obtaining $0.10^{+0.12}_{-0.07}$ for LRDs, about five times higher than the $2σ$ upper limit of $<0.02$ for high-redshift star-forming galaxies. Although we reproduce the broad Ly$α$ component reported in a previous stacking analysis of eight LRDs, albeit with a large uncertainty, we find no evidence for broad Ly$α$ emission in either the larger JWST stack, after excluding the two individually detected broad Ly$α$ emitters, or the higher-resolution MUSE stack. These results suggest that broad Ly$α$ emission is not ubiquitous among LRDs. Instead, LRDs with broad Ly$α$ emission appear to represent a rare population that may correspond to a particular evolutionary stage, potentially associated with unusually strong outflows or other distinctive physical conditions.

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ALMA observations of pre-JWST z ~ 10 galaxy candidates: A CO(J = 9-8) line from a ULIRG at z = 2.54 and revisit of the photometric redshifts with JWST photometry

We present Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) observations targeting the [OIII]$88\,μ$m line for six $z\sim10$ galaxy candidates selected with the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. We detect a line ($4.5σ$) and dust continuum emission ($30σ$) in UDS_18697, while detecting neither robust line nor continuum emission in the remaining five objects. The detected line in UDS_18697 is identified as CO($J=9-8$), because follow-up James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRSpec observations have confirmed the redshift as $z=2.54$. UDS_18697 is classified as an ultra luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) with far-infrared (FIR) luminosity of $L_\mathrm{FIR}\approx1.1\times10^{12}\,L_\odot$, assuming a dust temperature of $T_\mathrm{d}\approx42\,$K, estimated using a physically-motivated method. We find that UDS_18697 follows the $L_\mathrm{FIR}-L'_\mathrm{CO}$ relation for local and $z>2$ galaxies, albeit being slightly brighter in CO($J=9-8$). Also, based on the follow-up NIRSpec observations and spectral energy distribution fitting using JWST/NIRCam photometry, we found that most of our targets are suggested to be low-$z$ interlopers. Motivated by these redshift misclassifications, we investigate colour--colour selection criteria for high-$z$ galaxies using JWST spectroscopic survey catalogues. We find that elevating a colour threshold tracing the Lyman break is crucial for constructing a robust high-$z$ sample, particularly for wide field surveys such as Euclid Deep Fields and Roman High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey.

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A New Constraint on the Optical Depth from the Reionization History Independent of CMB Large-Scale E-Mode Polarization

Recent studies report a mild discrepancy between BAO and CMB measurements within the $Λ$CDM framework. This discrepancy could be explained if the optical depth $τ$ inferred from the CMB large-scale E-mode polarization is underestimated, which may be biased by foreground-subtraction or instrumental systematics. In this work, we present a determination of $τ$ independent of the large-scale E-mode polarization, using the latest measurements of the redshift evolution of the neutral hydrogen fraction $x_\mathrm{HI}(z)$, which is constrained by Lyman-$α$ forest and damping-wing absorption measurements at $z\sim5$--$14$, based on ground-based optical and JWST observations. Combining $x_\mathrm{HI}(z)$ with the Planck CMB power spectra excluding the large-scale E-mode polarization, we obtain $τ=0.0552^{+0.0019}_{-0.0026}(\mathrm{stat.})^{+0.0075}_{-0.0049}(\mathrm{sys.})$, where the systematic uncertainty accounts for possible absorption-modeling effects in the inference of $x_\mathrm{HI}(z)$. This constraint is consistent with previous CMB results including the large-scale E-mode polarization. With this measurement, we resolve the degeneracy in the $τ$--$Ω_{\rm m}$ plane and find a $2.4σ$ tension with the DESI DR2 BAO results, thereby confirming the claimed mild discrepancy suggestive of physics beyond $Λ$CDM. Finally, we derive an upper limit on the sum of neutrino masses, $Σm_ν< 0.0550\,(0.0717)\,{\rm eV}$ at the 95\%\,(99\%) confidence level. This limit favors the normal mass ordering and, when combined with the lower limits from neutrino oscillation experiments, yields a further constraint, $Σm_ν= 0.0594_{-0.0007}^{+0.0113}\,{\rm eV}$. However, the cosmological upper limit and the oscillation-based lower limit show a mild $2.2σ$ tension, providing an independent indication of possible physics beyond $Λ$CDM.

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EMPRESS. XV. A New Determination of the Primordial Helium Abundance Suggesting a Moderately Low $Y_\mathrm{P}$ Value

We present a new constraint on the primordial helium abundance, $Y_\mathrm{P}$, based on Subaru observations. A major source of uncertainty in previous $Y_\mathrm{P}$ determinations is the lack of extremely metal-poor galaxies (EMPGs; $0.01-0.1\,Z_\odot$), which have metallicities a few to ten times lower than the metal-poor galaxies (MPGs; $0.1-0.4\,Z_\odot$) predominantly used in earlier studies, requiring substantial extrapolation to zero metallicity. Here, we perform Subaru near-infrared spectroscopy of 29 galaxies, including 14 EMPGs. By incorporating existing optical spectra, we derive He/H for each galaxy using photoionization modeling of helium and hydrogen emission lines, including the He \textsc{i} 10830Å\, line to break the density--temperature degeneracy. After carefully selecting galaxies with robust He/H determinations, and adding 58 galaxies from previous studies, we obtain $Y_\mathrm{P} = 0.2402^{+0.0040}_{-0.0040}$. This $Y_\mathrm{P}$ value is $\sim1σ$ lower than most of the previous estimates, but agrees with recent determinations using EMPGs and the CMB constraint from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) experiment. Our result indicates $N_\mathrm{eff} = 2.54^{+0.20}_{-0.25}$, showing a mild ($\sim2σ$) tension with the Standard Model and Planck results. These tensions may suggest a nonzero lepton asymmetry $(ξ_\mathrm{e}\neq0)$, which would alleviate the tension with $ξ_\mathrm{e} = 0.05^{+0.02}_{-0.03}$. More observations of EMPGs and further assessments of systematic uncertainties are essential to test the potential tension more rigorously.

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