Dissecting the Interstellar Media of A Wolf-Rayet Galaxy at $z=2.76$

Abstract

We report JWST/NIRSpec observations of a star-forming galaxy at $z=2.76$, MACSJ1149-WR1. We securely detect two temperature-sensitive auroral lines, [SIII]6312 (7.4$\sigma$) and [OII]7320+7331 doublets (10$\sigma$), and tentatively [NII]5755 ($2.3\sigma$) for the first time in an individual galaxy at $z>1$. We perform a detailed analysis of its interstellar media (ISM), and derive electron temperatures, various heavy element abundances (O/H, N/O, S/O, and Ar/O) in the hot ionized region, and the neutral fraction in the warm ionized region. MACSJ1149-WR1 shows a broad feature at the wavelength of HeII 4686, which consists of a broad ($\sim1000$km/s), blue-shifted ($\sim-110$km/s) line component. Taken together with its mildly elevated N/O abundance, we conclude that MACSJ1149-WR1 is experiencing a young starburst ($<10$Myr), likely hosting a large number of Wolf-Rayet stars. None of its spectral features support the presence of AGN, including: $(i)$ the absence of broad components and velocity shifts in Hydrogen recombination lines, $(ii)$ low [FeII]${\rm 1.257 \mu m}$/Pa$\beta$ ratio, and $(iii)$ the absence of high-ionization lines. Our analysis using HeI lines reveals a higher electron temperature and a higher attenuation value, indicating that HeI may probe a smaller spatial scale than HI, presumably the region dominated by the aforementioned Wolf-Rayet stars. The star formation rates derived from various HeI lines broadly agree with those from Hydrogen recombination lines. We thus advocate that HeI can be an excellent, independent probe of multi-phase ISM in the era of JWST.