Scientific article
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English

A quasar-galaxy merger at z ∼ 6.2: Black hole mass and quasar properties from the NIRSpec spectrum

Published inAstronomy & astrophysics, vol. 685, p. 13; A121
Publication date2024-05
First online date2024-05-15
Abstract

We present JWST/NIRSpec integral field data of the quasar PJ308-21 at z  = 6.2342. As shown by previous ALMA and HST imaging, the quasar has two companion sources, interacting with the quasar host galaxy. The high-resolution G395H/290LP NIRSpec spectrum covers the 2.87 − 5.27 μm wavelength range and shows the rest-frame optical emission of the quasar with exquisite quality (signal-to-noise ratio ∼100 − 400 per spectral element). Based on the H β line from the broad line region, we obtain an estimate of the black hole mass M BH, H β  ∼ 2.7 × 10 9M . This value is within a factor ≲1.5 of the H α -based black hole mass from the same spectrum ( M BH, H α  ∼ 1.93 × 10 9M ) and is consistent with a previous estimate relying on the Mg  II λ 2799 line ( M BH, MgII  ∼ 2.65 × 10 9M ). All these M BH estimates are within the ∼0.5 dex intrinsic scatter of the adopted mass calibrations. The high Eddington ratio of PJ308-21 λ Edd, H β  ∼ 0.67 ( λ Edd, H α  ∼ 0.96) is in line with the overall quasar population at z  ≳ 6. The relative strengths of the [O  III ], Fe  II , and H β lines are consistent with the empirical “Eigenvector 1” correlations as observed for low redshift quasars. We find evidence for blueshifted [O  III ] λ 5007 emission with a velocity offset Δ v [O III]  = −1922 ± 39 km s −1 from the systemic velocity and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) FWHM ([O  III ]) = 2776 −74 +75 km s −1 . This may be the signature of outflowing gas from the nuclear region, despite the true values of Δ v [O III] and FWHM ([O  III ]) likely being more uncertain due to the blending with H β and Fe  II lines. Our study demonstrates the unique capabilities of NIRSpec in capturing quasar spectra at cosmic dawn and studying their properties in unprecedented detail.

Funding
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [BO 5771/1-1]
  • independent research fund denmark [DFF 8021-00130]
  • nasa [NAS 5-03127]
  • inaf ["The birth of the giants: JWST sheds light on the build-up of quasars at cosmic dawn"]
  • Fondazione Cariplo [2020-0902]
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [518006966]
  • Israel Science Foundation [1849/19]
  • NWO GRANT [016.VIDI.189.162]
  • Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica [INAF 2023 mini-grant "Exploiting the powerful capabilities of JWST/NIRSpec to unveil the distant Universe"]
  • Swiss National Science Foundation - A Revolutionary New Window on the First Galaxies [207349]
  • National Science Foundation - Characterizing the Early Co-evolution of Galaxies, Black Holes, and Gravitational-Wave Sources [2307171]
  • European Commission - The Missing Pieces of the SMBH Accretion Puzzle: Revealing Extreme Accretion Modes [950533]
Citation (ISO format)
LOIACONO, Federica et al. A quasar-galaxy merger at z ∼ 6.2: Black hole mass and quasar properties from the NIRSpec spectrum. In: Astronomy & astrophysics, 2024, vol. 685, p. 13. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348535
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Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202348535
Journal ISSN0004-6361
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