Unveiling the nature of the brightest z > 6 galaxies with ALMA and JWST

Abstract

The very brightest z > 6 galaxies are ideal laboratories for studying the physical properties of star-forming objects into the epoch of reionization. Selected from degree-scale, ground-based fields, these rare objects provide a key insight into early dust production and may harbour faint AGN. Targeted follow-up of small samples have unexpectedly shown both Lyman-alpha emission and other rest-frame UV lines (e.g CIV and HeII), suggesting unique star-formation conditions (or AGN) at early times. Furthermore, ALMA observations have revealed that 75% of the star-formation in these galaxies may be obscured. I will talk about HST/ALMA follow-up of bright z ∼ 7 LBGs in COSMOS and present new results from even brighter samples from z = 6 – 9 selected over ∼ 5 deg². The power of both ALMA and JWST, coupled with the intrinsic luminosity of these sources, will provide a unique insight into the formation and evolution of vigorously star-forming galaxies in the first billion years.