A Size Estimate for Galaxy GN-z11

Abstract

Abstract GN-z11 is the highest redshift galaxy spectroscopically confirmed with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Previous measurements of the effective radius of GN-z11 utilized galfit, which is not optimized to measure structural parameters for such a faint, distant object. Using new software called forcepho, we derive a size from images in the F160W band obtained both from the complete CANDELS survey and additional midcycle observations in order to contribute to the knowledge base on the size evolution, size–luminosity, and size–mass relation of early galaxies. We find a half-light radius mean of 0.″036 ± 0.″006 corresponding to a physical size of 0.15 ± 0.025 kpc. This size, smaller than the point-spread function, is dramatically smaller than previous estimates with shallower HST data using galfit but consistent with recent measurements using forcepho on new JWST data. Such a small size suggests that GN-z11's high luminosity is dominated by an active galactic nucleus.