Molecular Outflow in the Reionization-epoch Quasar J2054-0005 Revealed by OH 119 μm Observations

Dragan Salak*, Takuya Hashimoto, Akio K. Inoue, Tom J.L. Tom, Darko Donevski, Yoichi Tamura, Yuma Sugahara, Nario Kuno, Yusuke Miyamoto, Seiji Fujimoto, Suphakorn Suphapolthaworn

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Molecular outflows are expected to play a key role in galaxy evolution at high redshift. To study the impact of outflows on star formation at the epoch of reionization, we performed sensitive Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of OH 119 μm toward J2054-0005, a luminous quasar at z = 6.04. The OH line is detected and exhibits a P-Cygni profile that can be fitted with a broad blueshifted absorption component, providing unambiguous evidence of an outflow, and an emission component at near-systemic velocity. The mean and terminal outflow velocities are estimated to be v out ≈ 670 and 1500 km s−1, respectively, making the molecular outflow in this quasar one of the fastest at the epoch of reionization. The OH line is marginally spatially resolved for the first time in a quasar at z > 6, revealing that the outflow extends over the central 2 kpc region. The mass outflow rate is comparable to the star formation rate ( M ̇ out / SFR ∼ 2 ), indicating rapid (∼107 yr) quenching of star formation. The mass outflow rate in a sample of star-forming galaxies and quasars at 4 < z < 6.4 exhibits a positive correlation with the total infrared luminosity, although the scatter is large. Owing to the high outflow velocity, a large fraction (up to ∼50%) of the outflowing molecular gas may be able to escape from the host galaxy into the intergalactic medium.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume962
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024 Feb 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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