Abstract
Star-forming galaxies can exhibit strong morphological differences between
the rest-frame far-UV and optical, reflecting inhomogeneities in star-formation
and dust attenuation. We exploit deep, high resolution NIRCAM 7-band
observations to take a first look at the morphology of galaxies in the epoch of
reionization ($z>7$), and its variation in the rest-frame wavelength range
between Lyman $\alpha$ and 6000-4000\AA, at $z=7-12$. We find no dramatic
variations in morphology with wavelength -- of the kind that would have
overturned anything we have learned from the Hubble Space Telescope. No
significant trends between morphology and wavelengths are detected using
standard quantitative morphology statistics. We detect signatures of
mergers/interactions in 4/21 galaxies. Our results are consistent with a
scenario in which Lyman Break galaxies -- observed when the universe is only
400-800 Myrs old - are growing via a combination of rapid galaxy-scale star
formation supplemented by accretion of star forming clumps and interactions.
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