{
  "abstract": "We present JWST Cycle 2 NIRCam and NIRSpec observations in a quasar field J0226+0302 at z=6.5412 to probe the direct connections between the intergalactic medium (IGM), galaxies, and AGN during reionization. This field was previously observed by the JWST ASPIRE program, detecting eight [OIII]-emitting galaxies at 5.3<z<6.4 with a single NIRCam pointing. Using new NIRCam and NIRSpec observations, we identify 65 additional line-emitting galaxies at 5.3<z<6.4. The IGM-galaxy cross-correlation function shows a ~2-sigma excess IGM transmission at ~10-40 cMpc from galaxies, suggesting a significant contribution from regions traced by star-forming galaxies to the local ionizing background. The IGM-galaxy cross-correlation function in this field is consistent with THESAN simulations for an IGM neutral fraction of 5%-7% and an average galaxy ionizing photon escape fraction f_esc of 6%, although a single field is subject to substantial cosmic variance and cannot constrain these quantities independently. Among 49 line-emitting galaxies observed by NIRSpec, we identify four AGN with broad H-alpha emission lines, resulting in an AGN fraction of (8+/-4)%. From the IGM effective optical depth and the IGM-AGN cross-correlation function, we find that the IGM transmission is higher within 5 cMpc/h of four AGN than around the majority of [OIII] emitters. We interpret the excess transmission as resulting from the local radiation enhancement by the AGN, and estimate f_esc~50%-100%, based on our illustrative model for the IGM-AGN cross-correlation function. Future JWST NIRSpec observations in quasar fields will yield a more constraining IGM-AGN cross-correlation function, providing further insights into the roles of galaxies and AGN in reionization.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2606.14959",
  "author_total": 22,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Xiangyu Jin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jinyi Yang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Feige Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Koki Kakiichi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiaohui Fan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Enrico Garaldi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jaclyn B. Champagne"
    },
    {
      "name": "George D. Becker"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yongda Zhu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yunjing Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marianne Vestergaard"
    },
    {
      "name": "Huanqing Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Valentina D'Odorico"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anna-Christina Eilers"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiamu Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hyunsung D. Jun"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mingyu Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maria Pudoka"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wei Leong Tee"
    },
    {
      "name": "Minghao Yue"
    },
    {
      "name": "Huanian Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Siwei Zou"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm3gzh1v2bk7a.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2606.14959",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "bm3gzh1v2bk7a",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.14959",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.CO"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.GA"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7164881485",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.14959",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm3gzh1v2bk7a.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
      "native_id": "2606.14959",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.14959"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.CO",
      "subfield": "cosmology"
    },
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.GA",
      "subfield": "galaxies"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Probing Direct Contributions of Galaxies and AGN to Cosmic Reionization in a Quasar Field J0226+0302 with JWST NIRCam and NIRSpec",
  "title_text": "Probing Direct Contributions of Galaxies and AGN to Cosmic Reionization in a Quasar Field J0226+0302 with JWST NIRCam and NIRSpec",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm3gzh1v2bk7a",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}