PROBING the INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM and STAR FORMATION of the MOST LUMINOUS QUASAR at z = 6.3

Ran Wang, Xue Bing Wu, Roberto Neri, Xiaohui Fan, Fabian Walter, Chris L. Carilli, Emmanuel Momjian, Frank Bertoldi, Michael A. Strauss, Qiong Li, Feige Wang, Dominik A. Riechers, Linhua Jiang, Alain Omont, Jeff Wagg, Pierre Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report new IRAM/PdBI, JCMT/SCUBA-2, and VLA observations of the ultraluminous quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 (hereafter, J0100+2802) at z = 6.3, which hosts the most massive supermassive black hole (SMBH), 1.24 × 1010 M, that is known at z > 6. We detect the [C ii] 158 μm fine structure line and molecular CO(6-5) line and continuum emission at 353, 260, and 3 GHz from this quasar. The CO(2-1) line and the underlying continuum at 32 GHz are also marginally detected. The [C ii] and CO detections suggest active star formation and highly excited molecular gas in the quasar host galaxy. The redshift determined with the [C ii] and CO lines shows a velocity offset of from that measured with the quasar Mg ii line. The CO (2-1) line luminosity provides a direct constraint on the molecular gas mass, which is about (1.0 ± 0.3) × 1010 M. We estimate the FIR luminosity to be (3.5 ± 0.7) × 1012 L, and the UV-to-FIR spectral energy distribution of J0100+2802 is consistent with the templates of the local optically luminous quasars. The derived [C ii]-to-FIR luminosity ratio of J0100+2802 is 0.0010 ± 0.0002, which is slightly higher than the values of the most FIR luminous quasars at z ∼ 6. We investigate the constraint on the host galaxy dynamical mass of J0100+2802 based on the [C ii] line spectrum. It is likely that this ultraluminous quasar lies above the local SMBH-galaxy mass relationship, unless we are viewing the system at a small inclination angle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number53
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume830
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 10 2016

Keywords

  • galaxies: evolution
  • galaxies: high-redshift
  • galaxies: starburst
  • quasars: individual (SDSS J010013.02+280225.8)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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