Electron Densities of Typical Low-Mass Galaxies at z ≃2–7 from Stacked JWST/NIRSpec Spectra

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ID: 324881
2026
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Abstract
Abstract Direct electron-density measurements at high redshift are usually limited to galaxies with individually strong density-sensitive doublets, and therefore may not trace the average interstellar medium of ordinary low-mass galaxies. We stack public JWST/NIRSpec medium-resolution spectra from the DAWN JWST Archive to measure [SII]-based electron densities ne for low-mass galaxies at 2 < z < 7. The stacks yield ne ≃ 100–150 cm−3 at 2 < z < 5 and $n_e=381^{+104}_{-89}\ {\rm cm^{-3}}$ at 5 < z < 7, corresponding to an evolution ne = ne, 0[(1 + z)/(1 + 2.3)]α with $n_{e,0}=76^{+22}_{-23}\ {\rm cm^{-3}}$ and $\alpha =1.88^{+0.60}_{-0.64}$. A mass-matched stacking test gives a consistent rising trend, indicating that the increase is not driven solely by changing stellar-mass distributions. Individually measurable galaxies with both [SII] components detected at S/N > 5 have a higher normalization, $n_{e,0}=211^{+36}_{-31}\ {\rm cm^{-3}}$, showing that individual-doublet samples select a denser subset. Stacking archival JWST spectra therefore provides a direct route to measuring the average gas density of low-mass galaxies below the individual-doublet detection threshold.
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openalex_W7202366802 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Shihong Liu, Yu Rong
Journal monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/mnras/stag1537
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag1537
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