Deriving the intrinsic properties of high-z galaxies from lensed ALMA and JWST images

Abstract

We study the physical properties of high-redshift galaxies, taking advantage of the magnification offered by strong gravitational lensing. Our approach involves the analysis of high-resolution data from leading observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to probe the cold interstellar medium (gas and dust), and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to characterize stellar populations. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach with two case studies. For the submillimeter galaxy SDP.17 at z ∼ 2.3, we construct a gravitational lens model based solely on ALMA continuum data, enabling a characterization of its dust-emitting region. For P483, a lensed galaxy at z ∼ 3, JWST and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations reveal a low-mass, clumpy system undergoing active star formation, offering a snapshot of galaxy assembly during the Cosmic Noon. These studies demonstrate the power of gravitational lensing, combined with ALMA and JWST, to reveal the diverse pathways of galaxy evolution in the early universe.