BEACON: JWST NIRCam Pure-parallel Imaging Survey. IV. A Systematic Search for Galaxy Overdensities and Evidence for Gas Accretion Mode Transition
Abstract
We systematically search for galaxy overdensities using 20 independent fields with a minimum of six filters (F090W, F115W, F150W, F277W, F356W, and F444W) from BEACON, the JWST Cycle 2 NIRCam pure-parallel imaging survey. We apply an adaptive kernel-density estimation method that incorporates the full photometric redshift probability distribution function of each galaxy to map galaxy overdensities, and identify 207 significant ($>4\,σ$) overdensities at $1.5 3$, potentially due to a larger cold gas supply in earlier times. Our study reveals a complex interplay between individual galaxies and large-scale environmental properties, marking the onset of environmental effects on galaxy quenching in massive halos at cosmic noon.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Galaxies: Formation
Evolution
Phenomena
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Stellar
planetary
and galactic studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 4 February 2026
- Document type
- Preprint