MSA-3D: Uncovering Weak Active Galactic Nuclei and Resolved Outflows in Disguise in z ∼ 1 Star-forming Galaxies
13 affiliations
- 1Arizona State University
- 2Raman Research Institute
- 3Space Telescope Science Institute
- 4University of California
- 5University of Kentucky
- 6Swinburne University of Technology
- 7The Johns Hopkins University
- 8Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestische Physik (MPE)
- 9University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 10Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 11Beijing Normal University
- 12University of Western Australia
- 13Australian Research Council
Abstract
We present spatially resolved rest-optical spectroscopy of 38 star-forming galaxies at 0.5 < z < 1.5 from the JWST/NIRSpec Micro-Shutter Assembly (MSA)-3D survey, which employs a slit-stepping strategy to build integral field unit–like data cubes with a spatial sampling of ∼0 . ″ 1. We map emission-line morphology, excitation, and kinematics of the warm-ionized gas using [N II ]/H α , [S II ]/H α , and [O III ]/H β . Relative to z ∼ 0 galaxies at fixed stellar mass, our sources show systematically lower [N II ]/H α and [S II ]/H α and elevated [O III ]/H β , consistent with harder radiation fields and lower metallicities. Radially, [O III ]/H β profiles are typically flat or mildly positive, whereas [N II ]/H α also remains flat or declines outward, mirroring metallicity trends. On kiloparsec scales, we find a strong positive correlation between [N II ]/H α and velocity dispersion ( σ ), linking local excitation to turbulent or shock-driven kinematics. Six galaxies (∼16% of the sample) host spatially localized regions with elevated [N II ]/H α , high EW(H α ), and V rms ≡ V 2 + σ 2 > 250 km s − 1 , indicative of weak active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, shocks, or outflows. For these candidates, we infer modest warm-ionized outflow rates of 1−4 M ⊙ yr ⁻¹ and kinetic powers ∼0.1%−1% of the AGN bolometric luminosity (from central [O III ] or H α ). These values place our sample at the low-energy tail of known AGN-driven outflows yet in continuity with M ̇ out – L AGN scaling relations across 0 < z < 6. A completeness assessment shows MSA-3D is sensitive to AGN with L AGN ≳ 10 ⁴³ erg s ⁻¹ , underscoring both the promise and current limitations of detecting weak AGN activity in distant galaxies with resolved spectroscopy.
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BibTeX
@article{roy2026msa3d,
title = {{MSA-3D: Uncovering Weak Active Galactic Nuclei and Resolved Outflows in Disguise in z ∼ 1 Star-forming Galaxies}},
author = {Namrata Roy and Alaina Henry and Tucker Jones and Ivana Barišić and Ryan L. Sanders and Kevin Bundy and Matthew A. Malkan and Themiya Nanayakkara and Karl Glazebrook and Timothy Heckman and Juan M. Espejo Salcedo and Xin Wang and Danail Obreschkow and Tommaso Treu},
journal = {The Astrophysical Journal},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aea61d},
url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea61d},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - MSA-3D: Uncovering Weak Active Galactic Nuclei and Resolved Outflows in Disguise in z ∼ 1 Star-forming Galaxies
AU - Namrata Roy
AU - Alaina Henry
AU - Tucker Jones
AU - Ivana Barišić
AU - Ryan L. Sanders
AU - Kevin Bundy
AU - Matthew A. Malkan
AU - Themiya Nanayakkara
AU - Karl Glazebrook
AU - Timothy Heckman
AU - Juan M. Espejo Salcedo
AU - Xin Wang
AU - Danail Obreschkow
AU - Tommaso Treu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - The Astrophysical Journal
DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/aea61d
UR - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea61d
AB - We present spatially resolved rest-optical spectroscopy of 38 star-forming galaxies at 0.5 < z < 1.5 from the JWST/NIRSpec Micro-Shutter Assembly (MSA)-3D survey, which employs a slit-stepping strategy to build integral field unit–like data cubes with a spatial sampling of ∼0 . ″ 1. We map emission-line morphology, excitation, and kinematics of the warm-ionized gas using [N II ]/H α , [S II ]/H α , and [O III ]/H β . Relative to z ∼ 0 galaxies at fixed stellar mass, our sources show systematically lower [N II ]/H α and [S II ]/H α and elevated [O III ]/H β , consistent with harder radiation fields and lower metallicities. Radially, [O III ]/H β profiles are typically flat or mildly positive, whereas [N II ]/H α also remains flat or declines outward, mirroring metallicity trends. On kiloparsec scales, we find a strong positive correlation between [N II ]/H α and velocity dispersion ( σ ), linking local excitation to turbulent or shock-driven kinematics. Six galaxies (∼16% of the sample) host spatially localized regions with elevated [N II ]/H α , high EW(H α ), and V rms ≡ V 2 + σ 2 > 250 km s − 1 , indicative of weak active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, shocks, or outflows. For these candidates, we infer modest warm-ionized outflow rates of 1−4 M ⊙ yr ⁻¹ and kinetic powers ∼0.1%−1% of the AGN bolometric luminosity (from central [O III ] or H α ). These values place our sample at the low-energy tail of known AGN-driven outflows yet in continuity with M ̇ out – L AGN scaling relations across 0 < z < 6. A completeness assessment shows MSA-3D is sensitive to AGN with L AGN ≳ 10 ⁴³ erg s ⁻¹ , underscoring both the promise and current limitations of detecting weak AGN activity in distant galaxies with resolved spectroscopy.
SN - 1538-4357
SN - 0004-637X
ER -