Non-Thermal Physics Drives Compact, Self-Regulated Galaxy Morphologies at Cosmic Dawn

Abstract

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered unexpectedly bright, rapidly growing galaxies in the early universe, which were not predicted by most previously existing galaxy formation models. Using synthetic JWST observations of the Azahar simulation suite, we show that comprehensive non-thermal physics ("Full-Physics") produces compact, self-regulated galaxies that match observations from $z = 12$ to $z = 3$. This model also produces broad surface brightness distributions, where the bright end is dominated by compact sizes and bursty star formation. This compact starburst scenario naturally explains the detection of bright $z > 10$ galaxies in flux-limited surveys. By contrast, a model with standard hydrodynamics yields systems that are smaller and more concentrated than current data, while a model with calibrated supernova feedback produces unphysically large systems nearly twice the size of those observed. At lower masses ($\mathrm{M}_{*} < 10^{8}\,\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$), the Full-Physics model predicts sizes that are smaller than can be resolved with JWST, consistent with extrapolations from observations of higher-mass systems. Future observations with higher resolution could resolve this population and elucidate the physics driving the formation of the first galaxies.