Abstract

Using JWST to measure the evolving interstellar medium in high redshift galaxies

Alexandra Pope (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

The prominent peak in the history of star formation and black hole accretion at z~1-3 suggests strong evolution in the mechanisms that grow stars and black holes in galaxies. Mid-infrared observations can quantify both the energy balance between star formation and active galactic nuclei (AGN) activity, and constrain the composition and conditions of the gas and dust available to form new stars. In order to measure and understand the evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) in high redshift galaxies, I combine diagnostics from mid-IR spectroscopy, far-IR/(sub)mm continuum and CO molecular lines. While ground-based facilities such as ALMA and the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) probe the cold ISM, JWST will be crucial for measuring the warm ISM and small dust grains. I will discuss new programs for JWST that leverage the existing and planned observations of the cold ISM in order to determine how the conditions of the ISM evolve with cosmic time.

Talk