Remarkably high mass and velocity dispersion of molecular gas associated with a regular, absorption-selected type I quasar
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Remarkably high mass and velocity dispersion of molecular gas associated with a regular, absorption-selected type I quasar. / Noterdaeme, P.; Balashev, S.; Combes, F.; Gupta, N.; Srianand, R.; Krogager, J-K; Laursen, P.; Omont, A.
I: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Bind 651, A17, 02.07.2021.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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T1 - Remarkably high mass and velocity dispersion of molecular gas associated with a regular, absorption-selected type I quasar
AU - Noterdaeme, P.
AU - Balashev, S.
AU - Combes, F.
AU - Gupta, N.
AU - Srianand, R.
AU - Krogager, J-K
AU - Laursen, P.
AU - Omont, A.
PY - 2021/7/2
Y1 - 2021/7/2
N2 - We present 3 mm observations of the quasar J0015+1842 at z=2.63 with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA). Our data reveal molecular gas, traced with a Gaussian CO(3-2) line, with a remarkably high velocity dispersion (FWHM=1010 +/- 120 km s-1) that corresponds to a total molecular mass MH2approximate to (3.4-17) x 1010 Mcircle dot, depending on the adopted CO-to-H2 conversion factor alpha CO=(0.8-4.0) Mcircle dot (km s-1 pc2)-1. Assuming the 3 mm continuum emission is thermal, we derive a dust mass of about Mdustsimilar to 5x108 Mcircle dot. J0015+1842 is located in the molecular gas-rich region in the IR versus CO line luminosity diagram, in between the main locus of main-sequence and sub-millimetre galaxies and that of most other active galactic nuclei targeted so far for CO measurements. While the high velocity dispersion of the CO line suggests a merging system, J0015+1842 is observed to be a regular, only very moderately dust-reddened (AVsimilar to 0.3-0.4) type I quasar from its UV-optical spectrum, from which we infer a mass of the super-massive black hole of about MBHapproximate to 6x108 Mcircle dot. We suggest that J0015+1842 is observed at a galaxy evolutionary stage where a massive merger has brought significant amounts of gas towards an actively accreting super-massive black hole (quasar). While the host still contains a large amount of dust and molecular gas with a high velocity dispersion, the quasar has already cleared the way towards the observer, likely through powerful outflows, as has recently been revealed by optical observations of the same object. High angular resolution observations of this and similar systems are expected to help us better determine the respective importance of evolution and orientation in the appearance of quasars and their host galaxies. These observations have the potential to investigate early feedback and star-formation processes in galaxies in their quasar phases.
AB - We present 3 mm observations of the quasar J0015+1842 at z=2.63 with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA). Our data reveal molecular gas, traced with a Gaussian CO(3-2) line, with a remarkably high velocity dispersion (FWHM=1010 +/- 120 km s-1) that corresponds to a total molecular mass MH2approximate to (3.4-17) x 1010 Mcircle dot, depending on the adopted CO-to-H2 conversion factor alpha CO=(0.8-4.0) Mcircle dot (km s-1 pc2)-1. Assuming the 3 mm continuum emission is thermal, we derive a dust mass of about Mdustsimilar to 5x108 Mcircle dot. J0015+1842 is located in the molecular gas-rich region in the IR versus CO line luminosity diagram, in between the main locus of main-sequence and sub-millimetre galaxies and that of most other active galactic nuclei targeted so far for CO measurements. While the high velocity dispersion of the CO line suggests a merging system, J0015+1842 is observed to be a regular, only very moderately dust-reddened (AVsimilar to 0.3-0.4) type I quasar from its UV-optical spectrum, from which we infer a mass of the super-massive black hole of about MBHapproximate to 6x108 Mcircle dot. We suggest that J0015+1842 is observed at a galaxy evolutionary stage where a massive merger has brought significant amounts of gas towards an actively accreting super-massive black hole (quasar). While the host still contains a large amount of dust and molecular gas with a high velocity dispersion, the quasar has already cleared the way towards the observer, likely through powerful outflows, as has recently been revealed by optical observations of the same object. High angular resolution observations of this and similar systems are expected to help us better determine the respective importance of evolution and orientation in the appearance of quasars and their host galaxies. These observations have the potential to investigate early feedback and star-formation processes in galaxies in their quasar phases.
KW - radio lines: galaxies
KW - galaxies: active
KW - galaxies: evolution
KW - quasars: individual: SDSS J001514
KW - 82+184212
KW - 34
KW - ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
KW - SUPERMASSIVE BLACK-HOLES
KW - DIGITAL SKY SURVEY
KW - STAR-FORMATION
KW - HOST GALAXY
KW - REDDENED QUASARS
KW - AGN FEEDBACK
KW - CO
KW - MERGERS
KW - QSOS
U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140745
DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140745
M3 - Journal article
VL - 651
JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics
JF - Astronomy & Astrophysics
SN - 0004-6361
M1 - A17
ER -
ID: 276327795