Early galaxy evolution: The complex interstellar medium distribution of the z∼7 galaxy A1689-zD1
Journal article, 2025

We observed the gravitationally lensed (_ = 9:6 _ 0:19) galaxy A1689-zD1 at z = 7:1 in bands 3, 6, and 8 of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. These high-resolution observations (_200 pc) enabled us to separate the source into five components in the [C ii] 158 _m and [O iii] 88 _m emission lines within a projected distance of 2 kpc. Even though these components appear to vary strongly from one another in both their line, continuum, and optical characteristics, the assembly of components do not show ordered rotation and appear consistent with simulations of a galaxy system undergoing the process of assembly. The total dynamical mass of the galaxy (2_1010 M_) is an order of magnitude larger than the spectrally estimated stellar mass, suggesting a near-complete optical obscuration of the bulk of the stellar component. Comparing the line ratios as well as the line properties to other properties such as the star formation rate, we find that A1689-zD1 is consistent with the relations derived from local star-forming galaxies. Even though A1689-zD1 lies on local star formation scaling relations and has a high dust and stellar mass estimate, the kinematics suggest it is in an early assembly stage, which could lead to it becoming a disk galaxy at a later stage.

Galaxies: individual: A1689-zD1

Submillimeter: galaxies

Galaxies: ISM

Galaxies: evolution

Galaxies: high-redshift

Author

Kirsten Knudsen

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

D. Watson

Niels Bohr Institute

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

J. Richard

Université de Lyon

D. Frayer

Green Bank Observatory

S. Fujimoto

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

Niels Bohr Institute

University of Texas

Hollis B. Akins

University of Texas

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

Niels Bohr Institute

Tom Bakx

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Nina Bonaventura

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

Niels Bohr Institute

G. Brammer

Niels Bohr Institute

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

L. Christensen

Niels Bohr Institute

Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN)

Takuya Hashimoto

University of Tsukuba

Akio K. Inoue

Waseda University

Hiroshi Matsuo

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

MichaÅ J. MichaåÂowski

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

J. A. Zavala

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 701 A85

Galaxy evolution: Tracing the gas fraction of star-forming galaxies

Swedish Research Council (VR) (2015-05580), 2016-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.

Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/202453229

More information

Latest update

1/7/2026 1