Publication: Discovery of the most luminous quasar of the last 9 Gyr
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Date
2021
Authors
Onken, Christopher A.
Lai, Samuel
Wolf, Christian
Lucy, Adrian B.
Hon,Wei Jeat
Tisserand, Patrick
Sokolosk, Jennifer L.
Luna, Gerardo J. M.
Manick, Rajeev
Fan, Xiaohui
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Astronomical Society of Australia
Abstract
We report the discovery of a bright (g = 14.5 mag (AB), K = 11.9 mag (Vega)) quasar at redshift z = 0.83 — the optically brightest (unbeamed) quasar at z > 0.4. SMSS J114447.77-430859.3, at a Galactic latitude of b = +18.1◦, was identified by its optical colours from the SkyMapper Southern Survey (SMSS) during a search for symbiotic binary stars. Optical and near-infrared spectroscopy reveals broad Mg II, Hβ, Hα, and Paβ emission lines, from which we measure a black hole mass of log10(MBH/M) = 9.4 ± 0.5. With its high luminosity, Lbol = (4.7 ± 1.0) × 1047 erg s−1 or Mi(z = 2) = −29.74 mag (AB), we estimate an Eddington ratio of ≈ 1.4. As the most luminous quasar known over the last ∼9 Gyr of cosmic history, having a luminosity 8× greater than 3C 273, the source offers a range of potential follow-up opportunities.
Description
Keywords
Núcleo galácticos, Agujeros negros, Cuasares
Citation
Onken, C.A. et al. (2022) Discovery of the most luminous quasar of the last 9 Gyr. PASA. Astronomical Society of Australia, 39, 37-47. doi:10.1017/pasa.2022.36