Multiwavelength Observations of SDSS J105621.45+313822.1, a Broad-line, Low-metallicity AGN

Cann, Jenna M.; Satyapal, S.; Bohn, Thomas; Sexton, Remington O.; Pfeifle, Ryan W.; Manzano-King, Christina; Canalizo, Gabriela; Rothberg, Barry; Gliozzi, M.; Secrest, Nathan J.; Blecha, Laura

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab8b64

Cited by 26 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…a factor ∼ 2 increase. Regarding the decreased X-ray luminosity from BH accretion, recent studies (Simmonds et al 2016;Cann et al 2020) are detecting sources in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies showing broad optical emission lines, typical of AGN activity, but X-ray luminosity ∼ 1 − 2 orders of magnitude lower than expected. Assuming a conserva- 2019).…”

Section: The Active Fractionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In fact, in low-metallicity environments the X-ray emission from star-forming regions is enhanced (Fragos et al 2013;Brorby et al 2016;Fornasini et al 2020). This is coupled to an apparent deficit in X-ray luminosity from BH accretion (Simmonds et al 2016;Cann et al 2020). We discuss the effect of lowmetallicity environments in Sec.…”

Section: Agn Buried Inside Compton-thick Column Densi-mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Sec. §3 we anticipated that the X-ray detection of MBHs in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies can present enhanced challenges, due to increased X-ray luminosity from star-forming regions (Fragos et al 2013;Brorby et al 2016;Fornasini et al 2020) and reduced X-ray luminosity from BH accretion (Simmonds et al 2016;Cann et al 2020). These two effects both increase the correction factor (1) described in Sec.…”

Section: The Active Fractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Active Fraction of Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies

Pacucci,

Mezcua,

Regan

2021

Preprint

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The population of massive black holes (MBHs) in dwarf galaxies is elusive, but fundamentally important to understand the co-evolution of black holes with their hosts and the formation of the first collapsed objects in the Universe. While some progress was made in determining the X-ray detected fraction of MBHs in dwarfs, with typical values ranging from 0% to 6%, their overall active fraction, A, is still largely unconstrained. Here, we develop a theoretical model to predict the multi-wavelength active fraction of MBHs in dwarf galaxies starting from first principles and based on physical properties of the host, namely its stellar mass and angular momentum content. We find multi-wavelength active fractions for MBHs, accreting at typically low rates, ranging from 5% to 22%, and increasing with the stellar mass of the host as A ∼ (log 10 M ) 4.5 . If dwarfs are characterized by low-metallicity environments, the active fraction may reach ∼ 30% for the most massive hosts. For galaxies with stellar mass in the range 10 7 < M [ M ] < 10 10 , our predictions are in agreement with occupation fractions derived from simulations and semi-analytical models. Additionally, we provide a fitting formula to predict the probability of finding an active MBH in a dwarf galaxy from observationally-derived data. This model will be instrumental to guide future observational efforts to find MBHs in dwarfs. JWST, in particular, will play a crucial role in detecting MBHs in dwarfs, possibly uncovering active fractions ∼ 3 larger than current X-ray surveys.

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Section: The Active Fractionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Agn Buried Inside Compton-thick Column Densi-mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Active Fractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Active Fraction of Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies

Pacucci,

Mezcua,

Regan

2021

Preprint

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“…There are examples of Compton-thick AGNs in low-mass galaxies in the liter-ature (e.g. Chen et al 2017;Cann et al 2020). Under the assumption that an AGN does indeed reside in each of our target galaxies, we can estimate the column density required to suppress the X-ray emission below the L X − L IR relation (assuming that intrinsic X-ray luminosity is consistent with said relation).…”

Section: Multiwavelength Agn Scaling Relationsmentioning

confidence: 97%

A Chandra and HST View of WISE-Selected AGN Candidates in Dwarf Galaxies

Latimer,

Reines,

Hainline

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Reliably identifying active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in dwarf galaxies is key to understanding black hole demographics at low masses and constraining models for black hole seed formation. Here we present Chandra X-ray Observatory observations of eleven dwarf galaxies that were chosen as AGN candidates using Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE ) mid-infrared (mid-IR) color-color selection. Hubble Space Telescope images are also presented for ten of the galaxies. Based on Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopy, six galaxies in our sample have optical evidence for hosting AGNs and five are classified as star-forming. We detect X-ray point sources with luminosities above that expected from X-ray binaries in the nuclei of five of the six galaxies with optical evidence of AGNs. However, the X-ray emission from these AGNs is generally much lower than expected based on AGN scaling relations with infrared and optical tracers. We do not find compelling evidence for AGNs in the five opticallyselected star-forming galaxies despite having red mid-IR colors. Only two are detected in X-rays and their properties are consistent with stellar-mass X-ray binaries. Based on this multiwavelength study, we conclude that two-color mid-IR AGN diagnostics at the resolution of WISE cannot be used to reliably select AGNs in optically-star-forming dwarf galaxies. Future observations in the infrared with the James Webb Space Telescope offer a promising path forward.

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“…The use of infrared coronal lines (CLs), with ionization potentials > 70 eV, has been proposed as an alternative diagnostic (Cann et al 2018(Cann et al , 2020Satyapal et al 2021) to find SMBHs hidden by other diagnostics, as these lines are not susceptible to dilution from star formation, a common problem for the BPT diagnostics, which rely on emission lines corresponding to ionization potentials less than 35 eV. As stars do not produce enough high energy radiation to excite these ions, the detection of a coronal line can be unambiguous proof of the presence of an AGN.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relics of Supermassive Black Hole Seeds: The Discovery of an Accreting Black Hole in an Optically Normal, Low Metallicity Dwarf Galaxy

Cann,

Satyapal,

Rothberg

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

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The detection and characterization of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in local low mass galaxies is crucial to our understanding of the origins of SMBHs. This statement assumes that low mass galaxies have had a relatively quiet cosmic history, so that their black holes have not undergone significant growth and therefore can be treated as relics of the original SMBH seeds. While recent studies have found optical signatures of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in a growing population of dwarf galaxies, these studies are biased against low metallicity and relatively merger-free galaxies, thus missing precisely the demographic in which to search for the relics of SMBH seeds. Here, we report the detection of the [Si VI]1.963 µm coronal line (CL), a robust indicator of an AGN in the galaxy SDSS J160135.95+311353.7, a nearby (z = 0.031) low metallicity galaxy with a stellar mass approximately an order of magnitude lower than the LMC (M * ≈ 10 8.56 M ) and no optical evidence for an AGN. The AGN bolometric luminosity implied by the CL detection is ≈ 10 42 erg s −1 , precisely what is predicted from its near-infrared continuum emission based on well-studied AGNs. Our results are consistent with a black hole of mass ≈ 10 5 M , in line with expectations based on its stellar mass. This is the first time a near-infrared CL has been detected in a low mass, low metallicity galaxy with no optical evidence for AGN activity, providing confirmation of the utility of infrared CLs in finding AGNs in low mass galaxies when optical diagnostics fail. These observations highlight a powerful avenue of investigation to hunt for low mass black holes in the JWST era.

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Multiwavelength Observations of SDSS J105621.45+313822.1, a Broad-line, Low-metallicity AGN

Cited by 26 publications

References 82 publications

The Active Fraction of Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies

The Active Fraction of Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies

A Chandra and HST View of WISE-Selected AGN Candidates in Dwarf Galaxies

Relics of Supermassive Black Hole Seeds: The Discovery of an Accreting Black Hole in an Optically Normal, Low Metallicity Dwarf Galaxy

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