Discovery of a dual AGN at z ≃ 3.3 with 20 kpc separation

Husemann, B.; Worseck, G.; Arrigoni Battaia, F.; Shanks, T.

Abstract

A prediction of the current paradigm of the hierarchical assembly of galaxies is the presence of supermassive dual black holes at separations of a few kpc or less. In this context, we report the detection of a narrow-line emitter within the extended Lyα nebula (~120 kpc diameter) of the luminous radio-quiet quasi-stellar object (QSO) LBQS 0302–0019 at z = 3.286. We identify several high-ionization narrow emission lines (He II, C IV, C III) associated with this point-like source, which we have named “Jil”, which is only ~20 kpc (2.̋9) away from the QSO in projection. Emission-line diagnostics confirm that the source is likely powered by photoionization of an obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) three orders of magnitude fainter than the QSO. The system represents the tightest unobscured/obscured dual AGN currently known at z > 3, highlighting the power of MUSE to detect these elusive systems.

Citation

Husemann, B., Worseck, G., Arrigoni Battaia, F., & Shanks, T. (2018). Discovery of a dual AGN at z ≃ 3.3 with 20 kpc separation. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 610, Article L7. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732457

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 13, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 20, 2018
• Publication Date: Feb 20, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 16, 2018
• Journal: Astronomy and astrophysics.
• Print ISSN: 0004-6361
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-0746
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 610
• Article Number: L7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732457
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1337826