Solution to the conflict between the resolved and unresolved galaxy stellar mass estimation from the perspective of JWST

Understand

By utilizing the spatially-resolved photometry of galaxies at $0.2<z<3.0$ in the CEERS field, we estimate the resolved and unresolved stellar mass via spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to study the discrepancy between them.

• We first compare $M_{\ast}$ derived from photometry with and without the JWST wavelength coverage and find that $M_{\ast}$ can be overestimated by up to 0.2 dex when lacking rest-frame NIR data.
• The SED fitting process tends to overestimate both stellar age and dust attenuation in the absence of rest-frame NIR data, consequently leading to a larger observed mass-to-light ratio and hence an elevated $M_{\ast}$.
• With the inclusion of the JWST NIR photometry, we find no significant disparity between the resolved and unresolved stellar mass estimates, providing a plausible solution to the conflict between them out to $z\sim 3$.