High [OIII] luminosities from star formation and shocks in z∼6 quasars

High [OIII] luminosities from star formation and shocks in z∼6 quasars

We use archival WISE and Spitzer photometry to derive optical emission line fluxes for a sample of distant quasars at z∼6. We find evidence for exceptionally high equivalent width [OIII] emission (rest-frame EW∼400Å) similar to that inferred for star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. The median...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 2021-08, Vol.17 (S373), p.256-259
Main Authors: Lee, Bomee, Chary, Ranga-Ram
Format: Article
Language:eng
Subjects:
Astronomy
Contributed Paper
Equivalence
Galaxies
Infrared spectra
James Webb Space Telescope
Massive stars
Monte Carlo simulation
Photoionization
Quasars
Space telescopes
Spectrum analysis
Star & galaxy formation
Star formation
Stars & galaxies
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Summary:We use archival WISE and Spitzer photometry to derive optical emission line fluxes for a sample of distant quasars at z∼6. We find evidence for exceptionally high equivalent width [OIII] emission (rest-frame EW∼400Å) similar to that inferred for star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. The median Hα and Hβ equivalent widths are derived to be ∼400Å and ∼100Å respectively, and are consistent with values seen among quasars in the local Universe, and at z ∼ 2. After accounting for the contribution of photoionization in the broad line regions of quasars, we suggest that the narrow [OIII] emission likely arises from feedback due to massive star-formation in the quasar host. Forthcoming mid-infrared spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope will help constrain the physical conditions in quasar hosts further.
ISSN:1743-9213
1743-9221