Field Unit Research Articles

VLT/MUSE Characterization of Dimorphos Ejecta from the DART Impact

We have observed the Didymos-Dimorphos binary system with the MUSE integral field unit spectrograph mounted at the Very Large Telescope before and after DART impact and captured the ensuing ejecta cone, debris cloud, and tails at subarcsecond resolutions. We targeted the Didymos system over 11 nights from 2022 September 26 to October 25 and utilized both narrow- and wide-field observations with and without adaptive optics, respectively. We took advantage of the spectral–spatial coupled measurements and produced both white-light images and spectral maps of the dust reflectance. We identified and characterized numerous dust features, such as the ejecta cone, spirals, wings, clumps, and tails. We found that the base of the sunward edge of the wings, from October 3 to 19, is consistent with maximum grain sizes on the order of 0.05–0.2 mm and that the earliest detected clumps have the highest velocities, on the order of ;10 m s−1. We also see that three clumps in narrow-field mode (8″ × 8″) exhibit redder colors and slower speeds, around 0.09 m s−1, than the surrounding ejecta, likely indicating that the clump is composed of larger, slower grains. We measured the properties of the primary tail and resolved and measured the properties of the secondary tail earlier than any other published study, with first retrieval on October 3. Both tails exhibit similarities in curvature and relative flux; however, the secondary tail appears thinner, which may be caused by lower-energy ejecta and possibly a low-energy formation mechanism such as secondary impacts.

Lyman-α at Cosmic Noon II: The relationship between kinematics and Lyman-α in z ∼ 2–3 Lyman break galaxies

Abstract We report for the first time a relationship between galaxy kinematics and net Lyman- $\alpha$ equivalent width (net Ly $\alpha$ EW) in star-forming galaxies during the epoch of peak cosmic star formation. Building on the previously reported broadband imaging segregation of Ly $\alpha$ -emitting and Ly $\alpha$ -absorbing Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at $z\sim2$ (Paper I in this series) and previously at $z\sim3$ , we use the Ly $\alpha$ spectral type classification method to study the relationship between net Ly $\alpha$ EW and nebular emission-line kinematics in samples of $z\sim2$ and $z\sim3$ LBGs drawn from the literature for which matching rest-frame UV photometry, consistently measured net Ly $\alpha$ EWs, and kinematic classifications from integral field unit spectroscopy are available. We show that $z\sim2$ and $z\sim3$ LBGs segregate in colour-magnitude space according to their kinematic properties and Lyman- $\alpha$ spectral type and conclude that LBGs with Ly $\alpha$ dominant in absorption (aLBGs) are almost exclusively rotation-dominated (presumably disc-like) systems, and LBGs with Ly $\alpha$ dominant in emission (eLBGs) characteristically have dispersion-dominated kinematics. We quantify the relationship between the strength of rotational dynamic support (as measured using ${v}_{\mathrm{obs}}/2{\sigma }_{\mathrm{int}}$ and ${v}_{\mathrm{rot}}/{\sigma}_{\mathrm{0}}$ ) and net Ly $\alpha$ EW for subsets of our kinematic sample where these data are available, and demonstrate the consistency of our result with other properties that scale with net Ly $\alpha$ EW and kinematics. Based on these findings, we suggest a method by which large samples of rotation- and dispersion-dominated galaxies might be selected using broadband imaging in as few as three filters and/or net Ly $\alpha$ EW alone. If confirmed with larger samples, application of this method will enable an understanding of galaxy kinematic behaviour over large scales in datasets from current and future large-area and all-sky photometric surveys that will select hundreds of millions of LBGs in redshift ranges from $z\sim2-6$ across many hundreds to thousands of Mpc. Finally, we speculate that the combination of our result linking net Ly $\alpha$ EW and nebular emission-line kinematics with the known large-scale clustering behaviour of Ly $\alpha$ -absorbing and Ly $\alpha$ -emitting LBGs is evocative of an emergent bimodality of early galaxies that is consistent with a nascent morphology-density relation at $z\sim2-3$ .

HINOTORI I: The nature of rejuvenation galaxies

Abstract We present the HINOTORI (Star Formation History Investigation To Find Rejuvenation) project to reveal the nature of rejuvenation galaxies (RGs), which are galaxies that restarted their star formation after being quiescent. As the first step of HINOTORI, we construct the largest RG sample with 1071 sources. We select these RGs from 8857 MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO) survey galaxies by reconstructing their star formation histories with the Prospector spectral energy distribution fitting code. Both optical spectral data and UV to IR photometric data are used for the fitting. Using mock data, we confirm that our method can detect weak rejuvenation events that form only about $0.1$% of the total stellar mass with high completeness. The RGs account for ${\sim}10$% of the whole sample, and rejuvenation events contribute on average only about $0.1$% of the total stellar mass in those galaxies but $17$% of the cosmic star formation rate density today. Our RGs have a similar mass distribution to quiescent galaxies (QGs). However, the morphology of the RGs is more disk-like than QGs, suggesting that rejuvenation may occur selectively in disk-like QGs. Our results also suggest the possibility of multiple-time rejuvenation events in a single galaxy. Further spatially resolved analyses of integral field unit data and radio observations and comparisons to simulations are needed to identify the mechanism and the role of rejuvenation in galaxy evolution.

Kinematical coherence between satellite galaxies and host stellar discs for MaNGA and SAMI galaxies

ABSTRACT The effect of angular momentum on galaxy formation and evolution has been studied for several decades. Our recent two papers using IllustrisTNG-100 simulation have revealed the acquisition path of the angular momentum from large-scale environment (satellites within hundreds of kpc) through the circumgalactic medium (CGM) to the stellar discs, putting forward the co-rotation scenario across the three distance scales. In real observations, although the rotation signature for the CGM and environmental three-dimensional angular momentum are difficult to obtain, line-of-sight kinematics of group member galaxies and stellar disc kinematics of central galaxies are available utilizing existing group catalogue data and integral field unit (IFU) data. In this paper, we use (1) the group catalogue of SDSS DR7 and MaNGA IFU stellar kinematic maps and (2) the group catalogue of GAMA DR4 data and SAMI IFU stellar kinematic maps, to test if the prediction above can be seen in real data. We found the co-rotation pattern between stellar discs and satellites can be concluded with 99.7 per cent confidence level (∼3σ) when combining the two data sets. And the random tests show that the signal can be scarcely drawn from random distribution.

AGN feedback and star formation in the peculiar galaxy NGC 232: insights from VLT-MUSE observations

ABSTRACT We use VLT-MUSE integral field unit data to study the ionized gas physical properties and kinematics as well as the stellar populations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 232 as an opportunity to understand the role of AGN feedback on star formation. The data cover a field of view of 60 × 60 arcsec2 at a spatial resolution of ∼850 pc. The emission-line profiles have been fitted with two Gaussian components, one associated to the emission of the gas in the disc and the other due to a bi-conical outflow. The spectral synthesis suggests a predominantly old stellar population with ages exceeding 2 Gyr, with the largest contributions seen at the nucleus and decreasing outwards. Meanwhile, the young and intermediate age stellar populations exhibit a positive gradient with increasing radius and a circum-nuclear star-forming ring with radius of ∼0.5 kpc traced by stars younger than 20 Myr, is observed. This, along with the fact that AGN and SF dominated regions present similar gaseous oxygen abundances, suggests a shared reservoir feeding both star formation and the AGN. We have estimated a maximum outflow rate in ionized gas of ∼1.26 M⊙ yr−1 observed at a distance of ∼560 pc from the nucleus. The corresponding maximum kinetic power of the outflow is ∼3.4 × 1041 erg s−1. This released energy could be sufficient to suppress star formation within the ionization cone, as evidenced by the lower star formation rates observed in this region.

Upgradation of aircrew with minor musculoskeletal injuries in the operational bases: Need for a relook

Objectives: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) have been one of the most common contributors to disabilities among aircrew. The existing policy mandates all cases of MSKI in aircrew of the Indian Air Force, including minor injuries such as a sprain of small joints and phalangeal fractures to be evaluated at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), majority of which do not warrant a complete Human Engineering (HE) assessment. Hence, a need was felt to decentralize evaluation and empower other boarding centers/operational bases with local aerospace medicine specialists to carry out the evaluation. Material and Method: A retrospective analysis was carried out of a total of 930 cases of MSKI among serving aircrew who reported to IAM between Jan 2016 and Oct 2020. Results: About 27.68% of cases were of lower limb injuries and 16.52% of cases were of upper limb injuries. About 36.77% of cases of upper limb and 52.71% of cases of lower limb injuries were treated surgically while 63.23% upper limb and 47.29% lower limb injuries were managed conservatively. Full functional recovery within 12 weeks was seen in a significant number of conservatively treated distal upper and lower limb injuries not involving joints. Conclusion: HE assessment of MSKI at IAM is comprehensive including exposure to simulated aeromedical stressors. However, certain minor musculoskeletal disabilities did not require full HE evaluation and simulator facilities of IAM. Sending aircrew with such minor disabilities from field units to IAM amounts to an administrative obligation that can be avoided by empowering other medical boarding centers and local operational bases which have aerospace medicine specialists. This paper discusses the procedure of conduct and facilitation of aeromedical evaluation of aircrew in the non-flying medical category with certain minor MSKI in the field.

Prospects for detecting the circum- and intergalactic medium in X-ray absorption using the extended intracluster medium as a backlight

ABSTRACT The warm-hot plasma in cosmic web filaments is thought to comprise a large fraction of the gas in the local Universe. So far, the search for this gas has focused on mapping its emission, or detecting its absorption signatures against bright, point-like sources. Future, non-dispersive, high-spectral resolution X-ray detectors will, for the first time, enable absorption studies against extended objects. Here, we use the Hydrangea cosmological hydrodynamical simulations to predict the expected properties of intergalactic gas in and around massive galaxy clusters, and investigate the prospects of detecting it in absorption against the bright cores of nearby, massive, relaxed galaxy clusters. We probed a total of 138 projections from the simulation volumes, finding 16 directions with a total column density $N_{{\rm O\, {\small VII}}} > 10^{14.5}$ cm−2. The strongest absorbers are typically shifted by ±1000 km s−1 with respect to the rest frame of the cluster they are nearest to. Realistic mock observations with future micro-calorimeters, such as the Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit or the proposed Line Emission Mapper (LEM) X-ray probe, show that the detection of cosmic web filaments in ${\rm O\, {\small VII}}$ and ${\rm O\, {\small VIII}}$ absorption against galaxy cluster cores will be feasible. An ${\rm O\, {\small VII}}$ detection with a 5σ significance can be achieved in 10–250 ks with Athena for most of the galaxy clusters considered. The ${\rm O\, {\small VIII}}$ detection becomes feasible only with a spectral resolution of around 1 eV, comparable to that envisioned for LEM.

Unraveling the Complex Structure of AGN-driven Outflows. VI. Strong Ionized Outflows in Type 1 AGNs and the Outflow Size–Luminosity Relation

We present spatially resolved gas kinematics, ionization, and energetics of 11 type 1 and 5 type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with strong ionized gas outflows at z <0.3 using Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Integral Field Unit data. We find a strongly blueshifted region in [O iii] velocity maps, representing an approaching cone in biconical outflows, and blueshifted and redshifted regions in Hα velocity maps, which show gravitationally rotating kinematics. AGN photoionization is dominant in the central region of most targets, and some of them also show ring-like structures of LINER or composite that surround the AGN-dominated center. Following our previous studies, we kinematically determine outflow sizes by the ratio between [O iii] and stellar velocity dispersion. Outflow sizes of type 1 AGNs follow the same kinematic outflow size–[O iii] luminosity relation obtained from the type 2 Integral Field Unit sample in Kang & Woo and Luo (updated slope 0.29 ± 0.04), while they are limited to the central kiloparsec scales, indicating the lack of global impact of outflows on the interstellar medium. Small mass outflow rates and large star formation rates of the combined sample support that there is no evidence of rapid star formation quenching by outflows, which is consistent with the delayed AGN feedback.

JWST's TEMPLATES for Star Formation: The First Resolved Gas-phase Metallicity Maps of Dust-obscured Star-forming Galaxies at z ∼ 4

We present the first spatially resolved maps of gas-phase metallicity for two dust-obscured star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 4, from the JWST TEMPLATES Early Release Science program, derived from NIRSpec integral field unit spectroscopy of the Hα and [N ii] emission lines. Empirical optical line calibrations are used to determine that the sources are globally enriched to near-solar levels. While one source shows elevated [N ii]/Hα ratios and broad Hα emission consistent with the presence of an active galactic nucleus in a ≳1 kpc region, we argue that both systems have already undergone significant metal enrichment as a result of their extremely high star formation rates. Utilizing Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array rest-frame 380 μm continuum and [Ci](3P2–3P1) line maps we compare the spatial variation of the metallicity and gas-to-dust ratio in the two galaxies, finding the two properties to be anticorrelated on highly resolved spatial scales, consistent with various literature studies of z ∼ 0 galaxies. The data are indicative of the enormous potential of JWST to probe the enrichment of the interstellar medium on ∼kpc scales in extremely dust-obscured systems at z ∼ 4 and beyond.

Observing gravitational redshift with X-ray emission in galaxy clusters withAthenaX-IFU

Context.The Doppler shift predicted by general relativity for light escaping a gravitational potential has been observed on Earth as well as in the direction of various stars and galaxy clusters at optical wavelengths.Aims.Observing the gravitational redshift in the X-ray band within galaxy clusters could provide information on their properties and, in particular, their gravitational potential. We present a feasibility study of such a measurement, using the capabilities of the next-generation European X-ray observatoryAthena.Methods.We used a simple generalized Navarro–Frenk–White potential model along with aβ-model for the density of baryonic matter, which sets the emission to provide an estimation of the observed redshift in the simplest of cases. We generated mock observations with theAthenaX-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) for a nearby massive cluster, while seeking to recover the gravitational redshift along with other properties of the toy model cluster.Results.We investigated the observability of the gravitational redshift in an idealized test case of a nearby massive cluster with theAthenaX-IFU instrument, as well as its use in probing the properties of the potential well. We were also able to constrain the mass to a ∼20% level of precision and the cosmological redshift to less than ∼1%, within a simplified and idealized observational framework. More refined simulations accounting for further effects such as the internal gas motions and the actual shape of the potential well are required to fully investigate the feasibility of measuring the gravitational redshift for a single target or statistically over a sample of galaxy clusters.

Illuminating evaporating protostellar outflows: ERIS/SPIFFIER reveals the dissociation and ionization of HH 900

ABSTRACT Protostellar jets and outflows are signposts of active star formation. In H ii regions, molecular tracers like CO only reveal embedded portions of the outflow. Outside the natal cloud, outflows are dissociated, ionized, and eventually completely ablated, leaving behind only the high-density jet core. Before this process is complete, there should be a phase where the outflow is partially molecular and partially ionized. In this paper, we capture the HH 900 outflow while this process is in action. New observations from the Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph/SPIFFIER near-infrared (IR) integral field unit spectrograph using the K-middle filter (λ = 2.06–2.34 μm) reveal H2 emission from the dissociating outflow and Br-γ tracing its ionized skin. Both lines trace the wide-angle outflow morphology but H2 only extends ∼5000 au into the H ii region while Br-γ extends the full length of the outflow (∼12 650 au), indicating rapid dissociation of the molecules. H2 has higher velocities further from the driving source, consistent with a jet-driven outflow. Diagnostic line ratios indicate that photoexcitation, not just shocks, contributes to the excitation in the outflow. We argue that HH 900 is the first clear example of an evaporating molecular outflow and predict that a large column of neutral material that may be detectable with Atacama Large Millimeter Array accompanies the dissociating molecules. Results from this study will help guide the interpretation of near-IR images of externally irradiated jets and outflows such as those obtained with the JWST in high-mass star-forming regions where these conditions may be common.

Spectral study of the planetary nebula NGC 2452

We provide a detailed study for the Galactic planetary nebula (PN) NGC 2452, which has long been suspected to be a member of the Galactic cluster NGC2453. The present study uses integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopic observations of the PN to explore its physical conditions, chemical abundances, kinematical characteristics, and morphological features. The strength of the singly ionized helium (HeII λ4686) line reveals that the PN is of high excitation class. The presence of the neutral lines of [OI] and [NI] a long with the value of the flux ratio F([Nii]λ6583)/F(Hα) indicates that the object is slightly optically thick. We compute the nebular density and temperature from a large number of diagnostic line ratios. The ionic and total abundances of helium (He) and carbon (C) are derived from their optical recombination lines (ORLs), while the abundances of nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), sulphur (S), and chlorine (Cl) are derived from their collisionlly-excitation lines (CELs). Faint lines like Krypton (Kr), Manganese (Mn), and Chromium (Cr), which are known to be products of the slow-process (s-process), are also seen in the PN spectrum. To illustrate the morphology and excitation structures of the PN, we generate a gallery of emission-line maps using the nebular data cubes. We find that the PN has an overall elliptical shape with a few interior clumps. In terms of physical and chemical properties, we find no significant differences between the entire PN and its accompanying clumps, considering the uncertainties associated with these parameters. Both the astronomical data from Gaia and the inferred radial velocity suggest that the PN belongs to the Galactic thin-disk.

Incidence of hailstorms damage and strategies to minimize its effects on large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxburgh) plantations in Sikkim, North East India

Among the extreme weather events, hailstorm in recent past caused significant damage of large cardamom crop in Sikkim. In high altitude area of Sikkim, hailstorms generally occurrs in the month of March and April and caused severe damage to large cardamom plantations. In this paper, a detailed account of incidence of hailstorm damage and strategies to minimize its effects on large cardamom plantations are discussed. Frequency distribution of hailstorm showed that during last eight years hailstorm in Pangthang area of Sikkim occurred between 1427 to 1532 hrs and it continued for around 37 minutes on average. However, in Kabi area of North Sikkim hailstorm generally occurs during 1621 to 1628 hrs and it continues for around 21.25 minutes. Hailstorms varied in size from 0.5 to 1.0 cm in diameter. Damage caused by the hailstorms on plant tissue depends mainly on its size, duration of the storm event and the condition of the plant tissue when the injury occurs. Large cardamom being a broad leaved plant, the lamina tears parallel to the veins. Physical damage to floral parts of large cardamom plants due to hailstorm occurred at the flowering stage and depending on the extent of damage the yield of the plant was also affected in the subsequent crop season. Frequent hail episodes are identified and measures to minimize the damage of large cardamom plantations are discussed. The information generated in this study was found to be very useful in minimizing large cardamom crop loss through operational agromet services launched by the India Meteorological Department/Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the Agromet Field Units (AMFUs) located at Gangtok and ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong through Krishi Vigyan Kendra-East Sikkim, Ranipool.&#x0D;

Evidence for a large off-centered galactic outflow and its connection to the extraplanar diffuse ionized gas in IC 1553

Aims. We analyze a MUSE optical integral field spectrum of the star-forming edge-on galaxy IC 1553 in order to study its extraplanar diffuse ionized gas (eDIG) and the processes shaping its disk-halo interface. Methods. We extracted the optical emission line properties from the integral field spectrum and generated the commonly used emission line diagnostic diagrams in order to analyze the ionization conditions and the distribution of the eDIG. Furthermore, we performed gravitational potential fitting to investigate the kinematics of a suspected galactic outflow. Results. We find that the eDIG scale height has a maximum value of approximately 1.0 kpc and decreases roughly linearly with the radial distance from the galactic center in projection. The ionization state of the eDIG is not consistent with a pure photoionization scenario and instead requires a significant contribution from shock ionization. This, in addition to the gas kinematics, strongly suggests the presence of a galactic scale outflow, the origin of which lies at least 1.4 kpc away from the galactic center. The inferred shock velocity in the eDIG of approximately 225 km s−1 is comparable to the escape velocity estimated from our potential modelling. The asymmetric distribution of currently star-forming clusters produces a range of different ionization conditions in the eDIG. As a result, the vertical emission line profiles vary quantitatively and qualitatively along the major axis of the galaxy. This analysis illustrates that it is crucial in studies of the eDIG to use observations that take the spatial and kinematical distributions into account, such as those done with integral field units, to form an accurate picture of the relevant physical properties.

Participatory Interventions and Development of Social Capital: Evidence from Punjab Rural Support Programme

The admiration towards sustainable development and improved quality of life has been the critical subject matter since the beginning of the Anthropocene. The interconnections of individual and collective relationships regarding humanity and the environment are closely associated with affluent human development at individual, group, and community levels. In recent decades, numerous advancements that characterized improvement in quality of life, considered the reflection of exceptional actions and self-realization numerous national and international organizations intervening mainly in rural areas of Pakistan for mobilization of rural community to work for their betterment through participatory approach. This exploratory study tries to understand the development of social capital through these participatory interventions adopted by the Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP). PRSP has awareness interventions in 22 districts of Punjab province. From these districts, five were selected randomly for this study. Then, one field unit from each selected district was chosen, and 50 respondents were taken through a convenient sampling technique. Therefore, the total sample size for the study was 250. The results of the study revealed that the participatory approach applied by PRSP brought some positive changes in the thinking behavior of the rural communities, which led to developing the social capital. The Government institutions should encourage the participatory approach and also review its policies.

First Results from the JWST Early Release Science Program Q3D: Ionization Cone, Clumpy Star Formation, and Shocks in a z = 3 Extremely Red Quasar Host

Massive galaxies formed most actively at redshifts z = 1–3 during the period known as “cosmic noon.” Here we present an emission-line study of the extremely red quasar SDSSJ165202.64+172852.3’s host galaxy at z = 2.94, based on observations with the Near Infrared Spectrograph integral field unit on board JWST. We use standard emission-line diagnostic ratios to map the sources of gas ionization across the host and a swarm of companion galaxies. The quasar dominates the photoionization, but we also discover shock-excited regions orthogonal to the ionization cone and the quasar-driven outflow. These shocks could be merger-induced or—more likely, given the presence of a powerful galactic-scale quasar outflow—these are signatures of wide-angle outflows that can reach parts of the galaxy that are not directly illuminated by the quasar. Finally, the kinematically narrow emission associated with the host galaxy presents as a collection of 1 kpc–scale clumps forming stars at a rate of at least 200 M ⊙ yr−1. The interstellar medium within these clumps shows high electron densities, reaching up to 3000 cm−3, with metallicities ranging from half to a third solar with a positive metallicity gradient, and V-band extinctions up to 3 mag. The star formation conditions are far more extreme in these regions than in local star-forming galaxies but consistent with those of massive galaxies at cosmic noon. The JWST observations simultaneously reveal an archetypal rapidly forming massive galaxy undergoing a merger, a clumpy starburst, an episode of obscured near-Eddington quasar activity, and an extremely powerful quasar outflow.

Potential risk resulting from the influence of static magnetic field upon living organisms. Numerically simulated effects of the static magnetic field upon model complex lipids

Background: Recognising effects of static magnetic field (SMF) of varying flux density on flora and fauna is attempted. For this purpose, the influence of static magnetic field is studied for molecules of five complex lipids i.e. such as β-carotene, sphingosine, ceramide, cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine. Methods: Computations of the effect of real SMF 0.0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 AMFU (Arbitrary Magnetic Field Unit; here 1AMFU &amp;gt; 1000 T) flux density were performed in silico (computer vacuum), involving advanced computational methods. Results: SMF polarises molecules depending on applied flux density. Only β-carotene survives exposure to SMF of 10 and 100 AMFU without radical splitting of some valence bonds. Molecules of remaining lipids suffered radical cleavage of some bonds on exposure to SMF of 10 and 100 AMFU. Manipulation with applied flux density provides either inhibition or stimulation of biological functions of the lipids under study. Conclusions: SMF destabilises complex lipids to the extent depending applied flux density. Biological functions of β-carotene are fairly sensitive to SMF, whereas only slight response to the effect of SMF is observed in case of sphingosine, ceramide and cholesterol. Enzymatic hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is stimulated by SMF regardless of the catalysed enzyme employed.

Reionization and the ISM/Stellar Origins with JWST and ALMA (RIOJA): The Core of the Highest-redshift Galaxy Overdensity at z = 7.88 Confirmed by NIRSpec/JWST

The protoclusters in the epoch of reionization, traced by galaxy overdensity regions, are ideal laboratories for studying the process of stellar assembly and cosmic reionization. We present the spectroscopic confirmation of the core of the most distant protocluster at z = 7.88, A2744-z7p9OD, with the James Webb Space Telescope NIRSpec integral field unit spectroscopy. The core region includes as many as four galaxies detected in [O iii] 4960 and 5008 Å in a small area of ∼3″ × 3″, corresponding to ∼11 × 11 kpc, after the lensing magnification correction. Three member galaxies are also tentatively detected in dust continuum in Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 6, which is consistent with their red ultraviolet continuum slopes, β ∼ −1.3. The member galaxies have stellar masses in the range of log(M */M ⊙) ∼7.6–9.2 and star formation rates of ∼3–50 M ⊙ yr−1, showing a diversity in their properties. FirstLight cosmological simulations reproduce the physical properties of the member galaxies including the stellar mass, [O iii] luminosity, and dust-to-stellar mass ratio, and predict that the member galaxies are on the verge of merging in a few to several tens of Myr to become a large galaxy with M * ∼ 6 × 109 M ⊙. The presence of a multiple merger and evolved galaxies in the core region of A2744-z7p9OD indicates that environmental effects are already at work 650 Myr after the Big Bang.

Varstrometry for Off-nucleus and Dual Subkiloparsec AGN (VODKA). SDSS J1608+2716: A Subarcsecond Quadruply Lensed Quasar at z = 2.575

We report Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 deep IR (F160W) imaging of SDSS J1608+2716. This system, located at a redshift of z = 2.575, was recently reported as a triple-quasar candidate with subarcsecond separations (∼0.″25) based on selection from Gaia astrometry and follow-up Keck adaptive optics–assisted integral field unit spectroscopy. Our new HST deep IR imaging reveals the presence of a fourth point-like component located ∼0.″9 away from the triple system. Additionally, we detect an edge-on disk galaxy located in between the four point sources. The entire system exhibits a characteristic cusp structure in the context of strong gravitational lensing, and the observed image configuration can be successfully reproduced using a lens model based on a singular isothermal ellipsoid mass profile. These findings indicate that this system is a quadruply lensed quasar. Our results highlight the challenges associated with identifying dual/multiple quasars on ∼kiloparsec scales at high redshifts and emphasize the crucial role of deep, high-resolution IR imaging in robustly confirming such systems.

SDSS-IV MANGA: THE RADIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES WITHIN GALAXIES IN THE NEARBY UNIVERSE

Using the largest sample of galaxies observed with an optical integral field unit (IFU, the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey, ≈10000 targets), we derive the radial distribution of the physical properties obtained from the stellar continuum and the ionized-gas emission lines. Given the large sample, we are able to explore the impact of the total stellar mass and morphology by averaging those radial distributions for different bins of both global properties. In general, we find that most of the properties exhibit a negative gradient, with a secondary impact by global properties. Our results confirm the intimate interplay between the properties of the stellar component and those of the ionized gas at local (kpc) scales to set the observed radial gradients. The resemblance of the gradients for similar global properties indicates statistical similar histories of star formation and chemical enrichment, with an initial radial gas distribution following the potential of the galaxy.