A solar metallicity galaxy at $z>$ 7? Possible detection of the [N II] 122 $\mu$m and [O III] 52 $\mu$m lines

Abstract

We present the first detection of the [N II] 122 $\mu$m and [O III] 52 $\mu$m lines for a reionisation-epoch galaxy. Based on these lines and previous [C II] 158 $\mu$m and [O III] 88 $\mu$m measurements, using two different radiative transfer models of the interstellar medium, we estimate an upper limit on electron density of $\lesssim$ 500 cm${}^{-3}$ and a gas-phase metallicity $Z/Z_{\odot }\sim 1.1\pm 0.2$ for A1689-zD1, a gravitationally-lensed, dusty galaxy at $z$ = 7.133. Other measurements or indicators of metallicity so far in galaxy interstellar media at $z\gtrsim$ 6 are typically an order of magnitude lower than this. The unusually high metallicity makes A1689-zD1 inconsistent with the fundamental metallicity relation, although there is likely significant dust obscuration of the stellar mass, which may partly resolve the inconsistency. Given a solar metallicity, the dust-to-metals ratio is a factor of several lower than expected, hinting that galaxies beyond $z\sim$ 7 may have lower dust formation efficiency. Finally, the inferred nitrogen enrichment compared to oxygen, on which the metallicity measurement depends, indicates that star-formation in the system is older than about 250 Myr, pushing the beginnings of this galaxy to $z>$ 10.

arXiv comment10 pages, 7 figures; Published MNRAS: 06 March 2023

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