The WISSH quasars project. IX. Cold gas content and environment of luminous QSOs at z ∼ 2.4-4.7

DOI: 
10.1051/0004-6361/202039057
Publication date: 
11/01/2021
Main author: 
Bischetti, M.
IAA authors: 
Pérez-Torres, M.
Authors: 
Bischetti, M.;Feruglio, C.;Piconcelli, E.;Duras, F.;Pérez-Torres, M.;Herrero, R.;Venturi, G.;Carniani, S.;Bruni, G.;Gavignaud, I.;Testa, V.;Bongiorno, A.;Brusa, M.;Circosta, C.;Cresci, G.;D'Odorico, V.;Maiolino, R.;Marconi, A.;Mingozzi, M.;Pappalardo, C.;Perna, M.;Traianou, E.;Travascio, A.;Vietri, G.;Zappacosta, L.;Fiore, F.
Journal: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
645
Pages: 
A33
Abstract: 
Context. Sources at the brightest end of the quasi-stellar object (QSO) luminosity function, during the peak epoch in the history of star formation and black hole accretion (z ∼ 2-4, often referred to as "Cosmic noon") are privileged sites to study the cycle of feeding &amp; feedback processes in massive galaxies. <BR /> Aims: We aim to perform the first systematic study of cold gas properties in the most luminous QSOs, by characterising their host-galaxies and environment. These targets exhibit indeed widespread evidence of outflows at nuclear and galactic scales. <BR /> Methods: We analyse ALMA, NOEMA and JVLA observations of the far-infrared continuum, CO and [CII] emission lines in eight QSOs (bolometric luminosity L<SUB>Bol</SUB> ≳ 3 × 10<SUP>47</SUP> erg s<SUP>-1</SUP>) from the WISE-SDSS selected hyper-luminous (WISSH) QSOs sample at z ∼ 2.4-4.7. <BR /> Results: We report a 100% emission line detection rate and a 80% detection rate in continuum emission, and we find CO emission to be consistent with the steepest CO ladders observed so far. Sub-millimetre data reveal presence of (one or more) bright companion galaxies around ∼80% of WISSH QSOs, at projected distances of ∼6-130 kpc. We observe a variety of sizes for the molecular gas reservoirs (∼1.7-10 kpc), mostly associated with rotating disks with disturbed kinematics. WISSH QSOs typically show lower CO luminosity and higher star formation efficiency than infrared matched, z ∼ 0-3 main-sequence galaxies, implying that, given the observed SFR ∼170-1100 M<SUB>☉</SUB> yr<SUP>-1</SUP>, molecular gas is converted into stars in ≲50 Myr. Most targets show extreme dynamical to black-hole mass ratios M<SUB>dyn</SUB>/M<SUB>BH</SUB> ∼ 3-10, two orders of magnitude smaller than local relations. The molecular gas fraction in the host-galaxies of WISSH is lower by a factor of ∼10-100 than in star forming galaxies with similar M<SUB>*</SUB>. <BR /> Conclusions: Our analysis reveals that hyper-luminous QSOs at Cosmic noon undergo an intense growth phase of both the central super-massive black hole and of the host-galaxy. These systems pinpoint the high-density sites where giant galaxies assemble, where we show that mergers play a major role in the build-up of the final host-galaxy mass. We suggest that the observed low molecular gas fraction and short depletion timescale are due to AGN feedback, whose presence is indicated by fast AGN-driven ionised outflows in all our targets.
Database: 
ADS
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2021A&A...645A..33B/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2021A&A...645A..33B
Keywords: 
galaxies: high-redshift;galaxies: ISM;techniques: interferometric;quasars: supermassive black holes;submillimeter: galaxies;quasars: emission lines;Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies