We present new measurements of the quasar luminosity function (LF) at z ∼ 6 over an unprecedentedly wide range of the rest-frame ultraviolet luminosity M 1450 from −30 to −22 mag. This is the fifth in a series of publications from the Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-Luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs) project, which exploits the deep multiband imaging data produced by the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program survey. The LF was calculated with a complete sample of 110 quasars at 5.7 ≤ z ≤ 6.5, which includes 48 SHELLQs quasars discovered over 650 deg2 and 63 brighter quasars discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Canada–France–Hawaii Quasar Survey (including one overlapping object). This is the largest sample of z ∼ 6 quasars with a well-defined selection function constructed to date, which has allowed us to detect significant flattening of the LF at its faint end. A double power-law function fit to the sample yields a faint-end slope , a bright-end slope , a break magnitude , and a characteristic space density Gpc−3 mag−1. Integrating this best-fit model over the range −18 < M 1450 < −30 mag, quasars emit ionizing photons at the rate of s−1 Mpc−3 at z = 6.0. This is less than 10% of the critical rate necessary to keep the intergalactic medium ionized, which indicates that quasars are not a major contributor to cosmic reionization.
We present deep near-infrared spectroscopy of six quasars at 6.1 ≤ z ≤ 6.7 with VLT/X-Shooter and Gemini-N/GNIRS. Our objects, originally discovered through a wide-field optical survey with the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP), have the lowest luminosities (−25.5 mag ≤ M 1450 ≤ −23.1 mag) of the z > 5.8 quasars with measured black hole masses. From single-epoch mass measurements based on Mgii λ2798, we find a wide range in black hole masses, from M BH = 10 7.6 to 10 9.3 M . The Eddington ratios L bol /L Edd range from 0.16 to 1.1, but the majority of the HSC quasars are powered by M BH ∼ 10 9 M SMBHs accreting at sub-Eddington rates. The Eddington ratio distribution of the HSC quasars is inclined to lower accretion rates than those of Willott et al. (2010a), who measured the black hole masses for similarly faint z ∼ 6 quasars. This suggests that the global Eddington ratio distribution is wider than has previously been thought. The presence of M BH ∼ 10 9 M SMBHs at z ∼ 6 cannot be explained with constant sub-Eddington accretion from stellar remnant seed black holes. Therefore, we may be witnessing the first buildup of the most massive black holes in the first billion years of the universe, the accretion activity of which is transforming from active growth to a quiescent phase. Measurements of a larger complete sample of z 6 low-luminosity quasars, as well as deeper observations with future facilities will enable us to better understand the early SMBH growth in the reionization epoch. onoue@mpia-hd.mpg.de arXiv:1904.07278v2 [astro-ph.GA] 12 Jul 2019 2 Onoue et al.
We report the discovery of a quasar at z = 7.07, which was selected from the deep multi-band imaging data collected by the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program survey. This quasar, HSC J124353.93+010038.5, has an order of magnitude lower luminosity than do the other known quasars at z > 7. The rest-frame ultraviolet absolute magnitude is M 1450 = −24.13 ± 0.08 mag and the bolometric luminosity is erg s−1. Its spectrum in the optical to near-infrared shows strong emission lines, and shows evidence for a fast gas outflow, as the C iv line is blueshifted and there is indication of broad absorption lines. The Mg ii-based black hole mass is , thus indicating a moderate mass accretion rate with an Eddington ratio . It is the first z > 7 quasar with sub-Eddington accretion, besides being the third most distant quasar known to date. The luminosity and black hole mass are comparable to, or even lower than, those measured for the majority of low-z quasars discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and thus this quasar likely represents a z > 7 counterpart to quasars commonly observed in the low-z universe.
We report the discovery of 28 quasars and 7 luminous galaxies at 5.7 ≤ z ≤ 7.0. This is the tenth in a series of papers from the Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-Luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs) project, which exploits the deep multi-band imaging data produced by the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program survey. The total number of spectroscopically identified objects in SHELLQs has now grown to 93 high-z quasars, 31 high-z luminous galaxies, 16 [O III] emitters at z ∼ 0.8, and 65 Galactic cool dwarfs (low-mass stars and brown dwarfs). These objects were found over 900 deg 2 , surveyed by HSC between 2014 March and 2018 January. The full quasar sample includes 18 objects with very strong and narrow Lyα emission, whose stacked spectrum is clearly different from that of other quasars or galaxies. While the stacked spectrum shows N V λ1240 emission and resembles that Corresponding author: Yoshiki Matsuoka yk.matsuoka@cosmos.ehime-u.ac.jp of lower-z narrow-line quasars, the small Lyα width may suggest a significant contribution from the host galaxies. Thus these objects may be composites of quasars and star-forming galaxies.
We report the discovery of 41 new high-z quasars and luminous galaxies that were spectroscopically identified at 5.7 ≤ z ≤ 6.9. This is the fourth in a series of papers from the Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-Luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs) project, based on the deep multi-band imaging data collected by the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program survey. We selected the photometric candidates using a Bayesian probabilistic algorithm and then carried out follow-up spectroscopy with the Gran Telescopio Canarias and the Subaru Telescope. Combined with the sample presented in the previous papers, we have now spectroscopically identified 137 extremely red HSC sources over about 650 deg2, which includes 64 high-z quasars, 24 high-z luminous galaxies, 6 [O iii] emitters at z ∼ 0.8, and 43 Galactic cool dwarfs (low-mass stars and brown dwarfs). The new quasars span in luminosity range from M 1450 ∼ −26 to −22 mag, and continue to populate luminosities a few magnitudes lower than have been probed by previous wide-field surveys. In a companion paper, we derive the quasar luminosity function at z ∼ 6 over an unprecedentedly wide range of M 1450 ∼ −28 to −21 mag, exploiting the SHELLQs and other survey outcomes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.