Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA
We present a UV to millimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis of 16 hyperluminous, dust-obscured quasars at z ∼ 3, selected by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We aim to investigate the physical properties of these quasars, with a focus on their molecular gas content. We decompos...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad22e3 |
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| author | Weibin Sun Lulu Fan Yunkun Han Kirsten K. Knudsen Guangwen Chen Hong-Xin Zhang |
| author_facet | Weibin Sun Lulu Fan Yunkun Han Kirsten K. Knudsen Guangwen Chen Hong-Xin Zhang |
| author_sort | Weibin Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a UV to millimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis of 16 hyperluminous, dust-obscured quasars at z ∼ 3, selected by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We aim to investigate the physical properties of these quasars, with a focus on their molecular gas content. We decompose the SEDs into three components: stellar, cold dust, and active galactic nucleus (AGN). By doing so, we are able to derive and analyze the relevant properties of each component. We determine the molecular gas mass from CO line emission based on Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations. By including ALMA observations in the multiwavelength SED analysis, we derive the molecular gas fractions, gas depletion timescales, and star formation efficiencies (SFEs). Their sample median and 16th–84th quartile ranges are ${f}_{\mathrm{gas}}\,\sim \,{0.33}_{-0.17}^{+0.33}$ , t _depl ∼ ${39}_{-28}^{+85}$ Myr, and SFE ∼ ${297}_{-195}^{+659}$ K km s ^−1 pc ^−2 , respectively. Compared to main-sequence galaxies, they have lower molecular gas content and higher SFEs, similar to quasars in the literature. This suggests that the gas in these quasars is rapidly depleted, likely as the result of intense starburst activity and AGN feedback. The observed correlations between these properties and the AGN luminosities further support this scenario. Additionally, we infer the black hole to stellar mass ratio and black hole mass growth rate, which indicate significant central black hole mass assembly over short timescales. Our results are consistent with the scenario that our sample represents a short transition phase toward unobscured quasars. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:57:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-681ae9d73b334935936e028e634a4b7c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T21:57:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-681ae9d73b334935936e028e634a4b7c2024-03-20T13:58:24ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572024-01-0196419510.3847/1538-4357/ad22e3Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMAWeibin Sun0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7885-5882Lulu Fan1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4200-4432Yunkun Han2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2547-0434Kirsten K. Knudsen3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7821-8873Guangwen Chen4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4742-8800Hong-Xin Zhang5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1632-2541CAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China ; llfan@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China ; llfan@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China; Deep Space Exploration Laboratory , Hefei 230088, People's Republic of ChinaYunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 396 Yangfangwang, Guandu District, Kunming 650216, People's Republic of China; Center for Astronomical Mega-Science , Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100012, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 396 Yangfangwang, Guandu District, Kunming 650216, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology , Onsala Space Observatory, SE-439 92 Onsala, SwedenCAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China ; llfan@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China ; llfan@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People's Republic of ChinaWe present a UV to millimeter spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis of 16 hyperluminous, dust-obscured quasars at z ∼ 3, selected by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We aim to investigate the physical properties of these quasars, with a focus on their molecular gas content. We decompose the SEDs into three components: stellar, cold dust, and active galactic nucleus (AGN). By doing so, we are able to derive and analyze the relevant properties of each component. We determine the molecular gas mass from CO line emission based on Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations. By including ALMA observations in the multiwavelength SED analysis, we derive the molecular gas fractions, gas depletion timescales, and star formation efficiencies (SFEs). Their sample median and 16th–84th quartile ranges are ${f}_{\mathrm{gas}}\,\sim \,{0.33}_{-0.17}^{+0.33}$ , t _depl ∼ ${39}_{-28}^{+85}$ Myr, and SFE ∼ ${297}_{-195}^{+659}$ K km s ^−1 pc ^−2 , respectively. Compared to main-sequence galaxies, they have lower molecular gas content and higher SFEs, similar to quasars in the literature. This suggests that the gas in these quasars is rapidly depleted, likely as the result of intense starburst activity and AGN feedback. The observed correlations between these properties and the AGN luminosities further support this scenario. Additionally, we infer the black hole to stellar mass ratio and black hole mass growth rate, which indicate significant central black hole mass assembly over short timescales. Our results are consistent with the scenario that our sample represents a short transition phase toward unobscured quasars.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad22e3Active galaxiesHigh-redshift galaxiesStarburst galaxiesQuasars |
| spellingShingle | Weibin Sun Lulu Fan Yunkun Han Kirsten K. Knudsen Guangwen Chen Hong-Xin Zhang Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA The Astrophysical Journal Active galaxies High-redshift galaxies Starburst galaxies Quasars |
| title | Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA |
| title_full | Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA |
| title_fullStr | Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA |
| title_short | Physical Properties of Hyperluminous, Dust-obscured Quasars at z ∼ 3: Multiwavelength Spectral Energy Distribution Analysis and Cold Gas Content Revealed by ALMA |
| title_sort | physical properties of hyperluminous dust obscured quasars at z ∼ 3 multiwavelength spectral energy distribution analysis and cold gas content revealed by alma |
| topic | Active galaxies High-redshift galaxies Starburst galaxies Quasars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad22e3 |
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