A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4

Roberto Decarli; Antonio Pensabene; Tanio Diaz-Santos; Carl Ferkinhoff; Michael A. Strauss; Bram P. Venemans; Fabian Walter; Eduardo Bañados; Frank Bertoldi; Xiaohui Fan; Emanuele Paolo Farina; Dominik A. Riechers; Hans Walter Rix; Ran Wang

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202245674

A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4

Roberto Decarli, Antonio Pensabene, Tanio Diaz-Santos, Carl Ferkinhoff, Michael A. Strauss, Bram P. Venemans, Fabian Walter, Eduardo Bañados, Frank Bertoldi, Xiaohui Fan, Emanuele Paolo Farina, Dominik A. Riechers, Hans Walter Rix, Ran Wang

Princeton University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Characterizing the physical conditions (density, temperature, ionization state, metallicity, etc) of the interstellar medium is critical to improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In this work, we present a multi-line study of the interstellar medium in the host galaxy of a quasar at z≈ 6.4, that is, when the universe was 840 Myr old. This galaxy is one of the most active and massive objects emerging from the dark ages and therefore represents a benchmark for models of the early formation of massive galaxies. We used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array to target an ensemble of tracers of ionized, neutral, and molecular gas, namely the following fine-structure lines: [O III] 88 μm, [N II] 122 μm, [C II] 158 μm, and [C I] 370 μm-as well as the rotational transitions of CO(7-6), CO(15-14), CO(16-15), and CO(19-18); OH 163.1 μm and 163.4 μm; along with H2O 3(0,3)-2(1,2), 3(3,1)-4(0,4), 3(3,1)-3(2,2), 4(0,4)-3(1,3), and 4(3,2)-4(2,3). All the targeted fine-structure lines were detected, along with half of the targeted molecular transitions. By combining the associated line luminosities with the constraints on the dust temperature from the underlying continuum emission and predictions from photoionization models of the interstellar medium, we find that the ionized phase accounts for about one-third of the total gaseous mass budget and is responsible for half of the total [C II] emission. This phase is characterized by a high density (n∼180 cm-3) that typical of HII regions. The spectral energy distribution of the photoionizing radiation is comparable to that emitted by B-type stars. Star formation also appears to be driving the excitation of the molecular medium. We find marginal evidence for outflow-related shocks in the dense molecular phase, but not in other gas phases. This study showcases the power of multi-line investigations in unveiling the properties of the star-forming medium in galaxies at cosmic dawn.

Original language	American English
Article number	A157
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	673
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202245674
State	Published - May 1 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Galaxies: ISM
Galaxies: high-redshift
Galaxies: star formation
Quasars: individual: PJ183+05

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10.1051/0004-6361/202245674

Cite this

Decarli, R., Pensabene, A., Diaz-Santos, T., Ferkinhoff, C., Strauss, M. A., Venemans, B. P., Walter, F., Bañados, E., Bertoldi, F., Fan, X., Farina, E. P., Riechers, D. A., Rix, H. W., & Wang, R. (2023). A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 673, Article A157. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202245674

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title = "A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4",

abstract = "Characterizing the physical conditions (density, temperature, ionization state, metallicity, etc) of the interstellar medium is critical to improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In this work, we present a multi-line study of the interstellar medium in the host galaxy of a quasar at z≈ 6.4, that is, when the universe was 840 Myr old. This galaxy is one of the most active and massive objects emerging from the dark ages and therefore represents a benchmark for models of the early formation of massive galaxies. We used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array to target an ensemble of tracers of ionized, neutral, and molecular gas, namely the following fine-structure lines: [O III] 88 μm, [N II] 122 μm, [C II] 158 μm, and [C I] 370 μm-as well as the rotational transitions of CO(7-6), CO(15-14), CO(16-15), and CO(19-18); OH 163.1 μm and 163.4 μm; along with H2O 3(0,3)-2(1,2), 3(3,1)-4(0,4), 3(3,1)-3(2,2), 4(0,4)-3(1,3), and 4(3,2)-4(2,3). All the targeted fine-structure lines were detected, along with half of the targeted molecular transitions. By combining the associated line luminosities with the constraints on the dust temperature from the underlying continuum emission and predictions from photoionization models of the interstellar medium, we find that the ionized phase accounts for about one-third of the total gaseous mass budget and is responsible for half of the total [C II] emission. This phase is characterized by a high density (n∼180 cm-3) that typical of HII regions. The spectral energy distribution of the photoionizing radiation is comparable to that emitted by B-type stars. Star formation also appears to be driving the excitation of the molecular medium. We find marginal evidence for outflow-related shocks in the dense molecular phase, but not in other gas phases. This study showcases the power of multi-line investigations in unveiling the properties of the star-forming medium in galaxies at cosmic dawn.",

keywords = "Galaxies: ISM, Galaxies: high-redshift, Galaxies: star formation, Quasars: individual: PJ183+05",

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T1 - A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4

AU - Decarli, Roberto

AU - Pensabene, Antonio

AU - Diaz-Santos, Tanio

AU - Ferkinhoff, Carl

AU - Strauss, Michael A.

AU - Venemans, Bram P.

AU - Walter, Fabian

AU - Bañados, Eduardo

AU - Bertoldi, Frank

AU - Fan, Xiaohui

AU - Farina, Emanuele Paolo

AU - Riechers, Dominik A.

AU - Rix, Hans Walter

AU - Wang, Ran

PY - 2023/5/1

Y1 - 2023/5/1

N2 - Characterizing the physical conditions (density, temperature, ionization state, metallicity, etc) of the interstellar medium is critical to improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In this work, we present a multi-line study of the interstellar medium in the host galaxy of a quasar at z≈ 6.4, that is, when the universe was 840 Myr old. This galaxy is one of the most active and massive objects emerging from the dark ages and therefore represents a benchmark for models of the early formation of massive galaxies. We used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array to target an ensemble of tracers of ionized, neutral, and molecular gas, namely the following fine-structure lines: [O III] 88 μm, [N II] 122 μm, [C II] 158 μm, and [C I] 370 μm-as well as the rotational transitions of CO(7-6), CO(15-14), CO(16-15), and CO(19-18); OH 163.1 μm and 163.4 μm; along with H2O 3(0,3)-2(1,2), 3(3,1)-4(0,4), 3(3,1)-3(2,2), 4(0,4)-3(1,3), and 4(3,2)-4(2,3). All the targeted fine-structure lines were detected, along with half of the targeted molecular transitions. By combining the associated line luminosities with the constraints on the dust temperature from the underlying continuum emission and predictions from photoionization models of the interstellar medium, we find that the ionized phase accounts for about one-third of the total gaseous mass budget and is responsible for half of the total [C II] emission. This phase is characterized by a high density (n∼180 cm-3) that typical of HII regions. The spectral energy distribution of the photoionizing radiation is comparable to that emitted by B-type stars. Star formation also appears to be driving the excitation of the molecular medium. We find marginal evidence for outflow-related shocks in the dense molecular phase, but not in other gas phases. This study showcases the power of multi-line investigations in unveiling the properties of the star-forming medium in galaxies at cosmic dawn.

AB - Characterizing the physical conditions (density, temperature, ionization state, metallicity, etc) of the interstellar medium is critical to improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In this work, we present a multi-line study of the interstellar medium in the host galaxy of a quasar at z≈ 6.4, that is, when the universe was 840 Myr old. This galaxy is one of the most active and massive objects emerging from the dark ages and therefore represents a benchmark for models of the early formation of massive galaxies. We used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array to target an ensemble of tracers of ionized, neutral, and molecular gas, namely the following fine-structure lines: [O III] 88 μm, [N II] 122 μm, [C II] 158 μm, and [C I] 370 μm-as well as the rotational transitions of CO(7-6), CO(15-14), CO(16-15), and CO(19-18); OH 163.1 μm and 163.4 μm; along with H2O 3(0,3)-2(1,2), 3(3,1)-4(0,4), 3(3,1)-3(2,2), 4(0,4)-3(1,3), and 4(3,2)-4(2,3). All the targeted fine-structure lines were detected, along with half of the targeted molecular transitions. By combining the associated line luminosities with the constraints on the dust temperature from the underlying continuum emission and predictions from photoionization models of the interstellar medium, we find that the ionized phase accounts for about one-third of the total gaseous mass budget and is responsible for half of the total [C II] emission. This phase is characterized by a high density (n∼180 cm-3) that typical of HII regions. The spectral energy distribution of the photoionizing radiation is comparable to that emitted by B-type stars. Star formation also appears to be driving the excitation of the molecular medium. We find marginal evidence for outflow-related shocks in the dense molecular phase, but not in other gas phases. This study showcases the power of multi-line investigations in unveiling the properties of the star-forming medium in galaxies at cosmic dawn.

KW - Galaxies: ISM

KW - Galaxies: high-redshift

KW - Galaxies: star formation

KW - Quasars: individual: PJ183+05

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U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/202245674

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202245674

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 673

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A157

ER -

A comprehensive view of the interstellar medium in a quasar host galaxy at z ≈ 6.4

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

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