A massive quiescent galaxy at redshift 4.658

Carnall, A. C.; McLure, R. J.; Dunlop, James; McLeod, D. J.; Wild, Vivienne; Cullen, F.; Magee, D.; Begley, R.; Cimatti, A.; Donnan, C T; Hamadouche, M. L.; Jewell, S M; Walker, Sam

doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06158-6

“…JWST/NIRSpec deepspectroscopic observations have confirmed the candidate in Onoue et al (2023) at z spec = 5.2 by detecting a broad Hα emission line that indicates a black hole mass of M BH ∼ 10 7 M e , with an additional finding of a red AGN at z spec = 5.6 (Kocevski et al 2023). NIRSpec spectroscopy has also identified an SMBH in a quiescent galaxy at z = 4.658 (Carnall et al 2023). NIRSpec IFU observations have revealed broad Hα and Hβ emission lines in a galaxy at z = 5.55 (Übler et al 2023), which is interpreted as a type 1.8 AGN with a black hole mass of M BH ∼ 10 8 M e .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M _BH ∼ 10⁶–10⁸ M _⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

Harikane,

Zhang,

Nakajima

et al. 2023

ApJ

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We present the first statistical sample of faint type 1 AGNs at z > 4 identified by JWST/NIRSpec deep spectroscopy. Among the 185 galaxies at z spec = 3.8–8.9 confirmed with NIRSpec, our systematic search for broad-line emission reveals 10 type 1 AGNs at z = 4.015–6.936 whose broad component is only seen in the permitted Hα line and not in the forbidden [O iii]λ5007 line that is detected with greater significance than Hα. The broad Hα line widths of FWHM ≃ 1000–6000 km s−1 suggest that the AGNs have low-mass black holes with M BH ∼ 106–108 M ⊙, remarkably lower than those of low-luminosity quasars previously identified at z > 4 with ground-based telescopes. JWST and Hubble Space Telescope high-resolution images reveal that the majority of them show extended morphologies indicating significant contribution to the total lights from their host galaxies, except for three compact objects two of which show red spectral energy distributions, probably in a transition phase from faint AGNs to low luminosity quasars. Careful AGN-host decomposition analyses show that their host’s stellar masses are systematically lower than the local relation between the black hole mass and the stellar mass, implying a fast black hole growth consistent with predictions from theoretical simulations. A high fraction of the broad-line AGNs (∼5%), higher than z ∼ 0, indicates that the number density of such faint AGNs is higher than an extrapolation of the quasar luminosity function, implying a large population of AGNs in the early universe. Such faint AGNs contribute to cosmic reionization, while the total contribution is not large, up to ∼50% at z ∼ 6, because of their faint nature.

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“…These exceptional discoveries come on top of more numerous detections in the redshift range z = 4-7 (i.e., where the Hα line is effective in measuring masses) that is filling the 10 6 -10 8 M e black hole mass range (Carnall et al 2023;Harikane et al 2023a;Kocevski et al 2023;Onoue et al 2023;Übler et al 2023). This redshift range is now filled with many galaxies hosting black holes, also of low mass, that allow some statistical inference.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

JWST CEERS and JADES Active Galaxies at z = 4–7 Violate the Local M _•–M _⋆ Relation at >3σ: Implications for Low-mass Black Holes and Seeding Models

Pacucci,

Nguyen,

Carniani

et al. 2023

ApJL

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JWST is revolutionizing our understanding of the high-z Universe by expanding the black hole horizon, looking farther and to smaller masses, and revealing the stellar light of their hosts. By examining JWST galaxies at z = 4–7 that host Hα-detected black holes, we investigate (i) the high-z M •–M ⋆ relation and (ii) the black hole mass distribution, especially in its low-mass range (M • ≲ 106.5 M ⊙). With a detailed statistical analysis, our findings conclusively reveal a high-z M •–M ⋆ relation that deviates at >3σ confidence level from the local relation. The high-z relation is log ( M • / M ⊙ ) = − 2.43 − 0.83 + 0.83 + 1.06 − 0.09 + 0.09 log ( M ⋆ / M ⊙ ) . Black holes are overmassive by ∼10–100× compared to their low-z counterparts in galactic hosts of the same stellar mass. This fact is not due to a selection effect in surveys. Moreover, our analysis predicts the possibility of detecting in high-z JWST surveys 5–15× more black holes with M • ≲ 106.5 M ⊙, and 10–30× more with M • ≲ 108.5 M ⊙, compared to local relation’s predictions. The lighter black holes preferentially occupy galaxies with a stellar mass of ∼107.5–108 M ⊙. We have yet to detect these sources because (i) they may be inactive (duty cycles 1%–10%), (ii) the host overshines the active galactic nucleus (AGN), or (iii) the AGN is obscured and not immediately recognizable by line diagnostics. A search of low-mass black holes in existing JWST surveys will further test the M •–M ⋆ relation. Current JWST fields represent a treasure trove of black hole systems at z = 4–7; their detection will provide crucial insights into their early evolution and coevolution with their galactic hosts.

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“…This AGN candidate, CEERS-AGN-z5-1, has a compact morphology and shows a rest-frame UV-to-optical spectral energy distribution (SED) that can be well explained by an unobscured quasar with L bol = (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10 44 erg s −1 and strong Balmer and [O III] emission lines. In addition, Carnall et al (2023) recently reported the detection of broad Hα emission from a quiescent galaxy at z = 4.658 using JWST, from which they measure the central SMBH mass of M BH = 10 8.7±0.1 M e .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden Little Monsters: Spectroscopic Identification of Low-mass, Broad-line AGNs at z > 5 with CEERS

Kocevski,

Onoue,

Inayoshi

et al. 2023

ApJL

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We report on the discovery of two low-luminosity, broad-line active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at z > 5 identified using JWST NIRSpec spectroscopy from the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) survey. We detect broad Hα emission in the spectra of both sources, with FWHM of 2060 ± 290 km s−1 and 1800 ± 200 km s−1, resulting in virial black hole (BH) masses that are 1–2 dex below those of existing samples of luminous quasars at z > 5. The first source, CEERS 2782 at z = 5.242, is 2–3 dex fainter than known quasars at similar redshifts and was previously identified as a candidate low-luminosity AGN based on its morphology and rest-frame optical spectral energy distribution (SED). We measure a BH mass of M BH = (1.3 ± 0.4) × 107 M ⊙, confirming that this AGN is powered by the least massive BH known in the Universe at the end of cosmic reionization. The second source, CEERS 746 at z = 5.624, is inferred to be a heavily obscured, broad-line AGN caught in a transition phase between a dust-obscured starburst and an unobscured quasar. We estimate its BH mass to be in the range of M BH ≃ (0.9–4.7) × 107 M ⊙, depending on the level of dust obscuration assumed. We perform SED fitting to derive host stellar masses, M ⋆, allowing us to place constraints on the BH–galaxy mass relationship in the lowest mass range yet probed in the early Universe. The M BH/M ⋆ ratio for CEERS 2782, in particular, is consistent with or higher than the empirical relationship seen in massive galaxies at z = 0. We examine the narrow emission line ratios of both sources and find that their location on the BPT and OHNO diagrams is consistent with model predictions for moderately low metallicity AGNs with Z/Z ⊙ ≃ 0.2–0.4. The spectroscopic identification of low-luminosity, broad-line AGNs at z > 5 with M BH ≃ 107 M ⊙ demonstrates the capability of JWST to push BH masses closer to the range predicted for the BH seed population and provides a unique opportunity to study the early stages of BH–galaxy assembly.

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A massive quiescent galaxy at redshift 4.658

Cited by 63 publications

References 68 publications

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M _BH ∼ 10⁶–10⁸ M _⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M _BH ∼ 10⁶–10⁸ M _⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

JWST CEERS and JADES Active Galaxies at z = 4–7 Violate the Local M _•–M _⋆ Relation at >3σ: Implications for Low-mass Black Holes and Seeding Models

Hidden Little Monsters: Spectroscopic Identification of Low-mass, Broad-line AGNs at z > 5 with CEERS

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A massive quiescent galaxy at redshift 4.658

Cited by 63 publications

References 68 publications

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M BH ∼ 106–108 M ⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M BH ∼ 106–108 M ⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

JWST CEERS and JADES Active Galaxies at z = 4–7 Violate the Local M •–M ⋆ Relation at >3σ: Implications for Low-mass Black Holes and Seeding Models

Hidden Little Monsters: Spectroscopic Identification of Low-mass, Broad-line AGNs at z > 5 with CEERS

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M _BH ∼ 10⁶–10⁸ M _⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M _BH ∼ 10⁶–10⁸ M _⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

JWST CEERS and JADES Active Galaxies at z = 4–7 Violate the Local M _•–M _⋆ Relation at >3σ: Implications for Low-mass Black Holes and Seeding Models