Unveiling the main sequence of galaxies at $z \geq 5$ with the James Webb Space Telescope: predictions from simulations

Understand

We use two independent, galaxy formation simulations, FLARES, a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation, and SHARK, a semi-analytic model, to explore how well the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be able to uncover the existence and parameters of the star-forming main sequence (SFS) at $z=5\to10$, i.e.

• shape, scatter, normalisation.
• Using two independent simulations allows us to isolate predictions (e.g., stellar mass, star formation rate, SFR, luminosity functions) that are robust to or highly dependent on the implementation of the physics of galaxy formation.
• Both simulations predict that JWST can observe $\ge 70-90\%$ (for SHARK and FLARES respectively) of galaxies up to $z\sim10$ (down to stellar masses of $\approx 10^{8.3}\,\rm M_{\odot}$ and SFRs of $\approx 10^{0.5}\,\rm M_{\odot}\, yr^{-1}$) in modest integration times and given current proposed survey areas (e.g.