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arXiv · 2204.00793

Spatially resolved molecular interstellar medium in a $z=6.6$ quasar host galaxy

Jianan Li·Bram P. Venemans·Fabian Walter·Roberto Decarli·Ran Wang·Zheng Cai
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Abstract

We present high spatial resolution (0.4", 2.2kpc) observations of the CO(6-5), CO(7-6) and [CI] lines and dust continuum emission from the interstellar medium in the host galaxy of the quasar J0305$-$3150 at $z=6.6$. These, together with archival [CII] data at comparable spatial resolution, enable studies of the spatial distribution and kinematics between the ISM in different phases. When comparing the radial profiles of CO, [CII] and the dust continuum, we find that the CO and dust continuum exhibit similar spatial distributions, both of which are less extended than the [CII], indicating that the CO and dust continuum are tracing the same gas component, while the [CII] is tracing a more extended one. In addition, we derive the radial profiles of the [CII]/CO, [CII]/far-infrared (FIR), CO/FIR, and dust continuum $S_{98.7 \rm GHz}/S_{258.1 \rm GHz}$ ratios. We find a decreasing $S_{98.7 \rm GHz}/S_{258.1 \rm GHz}$ ratio with radius, possibly indicating a decrease of dust optical depth with increasing radius. We also detect some of the ISM lines and continuum emission in the companion galaxies previously discovered in the field around J0305$-$3150. Through comparing the line-to-line and line-to-FIR ratios, we find no significant differences between the quasar and its companion galaxies.

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Jianan Li, Bram P. Venemans, Fabian Walter, Roberto Decarli, Ran Wang, Zheng Cai. 2022-04-02. Spatially resolved molecular interstellar medium in a $z=6.6$ quasar host galaxy. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2Fac61d7

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