2025ApJ...992L..27T -
Astrophys. J., 992, L27 (2025/October-3)
Insights for Early Massive Black Hole Growth from JWST Detection of the [Ne v] λ3427 Emission Line.
TRAKHTENBROT B., RICCI C., TREISTER E., KOSS M.J., MUSHOTZKY R., OH K., PECA A., BAUER F.E., GUPTA K.K. and REISS T.
Abstract (from CDS):
We use the narrow [Ne v] λ3427 emission line detected in the recently published JWST spectra of two galaxies, at z ≃ 6.9 and 5.6, to study the key properties of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in their centers. Using a new empirical scaling linking the $\left[{\rm{Ne}}\,{\rm\small{V}}\right]$ line emission with AGN accretion-driven (continuum) emission, derived from a highly complete low-redshift AGN sample, we show that the $\left[{\rm{Ne}}\,{\rm\small{V}}\right]$ emission in the two z > 5 galaxies implies total (bolometric) AGN luminosities of order Lbol ≈ (4-8) × 1045 erg s–1. Assuming that the radiation emitted from these systems is Eddington limited, the (minimal) black hole (BH) masses are of order MBH ≳ 107M⊙. Combined with the published stellar masses of the galaxies, estimated from dedicated fitting of their spectral energy distributions, the implied BH-to-stellar mass ratios are of order MBH/Mhost ≈ 0.1-1. This is considerably higher than what is found in the local Universe, but is consistent with the general trend seen in some other z ≳ 5 AGN. Given the intrinsic weakness of the $\left[{\rm{Ne}}\,{\rm\small{V}}\right]$ line and the nature of the $\left[{\rm{Ne}}\,{\rm\small{V}}\right]$-to-Lbol scaling, any (rare) detection of the [Ne v] λ3427 line at z > 5 would translate to similarly high AGN luminosities and SMBH masses, thus providing a unique observational path for studying luminous AGN well into the epoch of reionization, including obscured sources.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Active galactic nuclei - High-redshift galaxies - Supermassive black holes - AGN host galaxies
Simbad objects:
5
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