arXiv subjects

Alejo Martinez-Sansigre

Publications and source records attributed to Alejo Martinez-Sansigre.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Ground-state 12CO emission and a resolved jet at 115 GHz (rest-frame) in the radio loud quasar 3C318

An analysis of 44 GHz VLA observations of the z = 1.574 radio-loud quasar 3C318 has revealed emission from the redshifted J = 1 - 0 transition of the CO molecule and spatially resolved the 6.3 kpc radio jet associated with the quasar at 115 GHz rest-frame. The continuum-subtracted line emitter is spatially offset from the quasar nucleus by 0.33" (2.82 kpc in projection). This spatial offset has a significance of >8-sigma and, together with a previously published -400 km/s velocity offset measured in the J = 2 - 1 CO line relative to the systemic redshift of the quasar, rules out a circumnuclear starburst or molecular gas ring and suggests that the quasar host galaxy is either undergoing a major merger with a gas-rich galaxy or is otherwise a highly disrupted system. If the merger scenario is correct then the event may be in its early stages, acting as the trigger for both the young radio jets in the quasar and a starburst in the merging galaxy. The total molecular gas mass in the spatially offset line emitter as measured from the ground-state CO line M_H2 = 3.7 (+/-0.4) x 10^10 (alpha_CO/0.8) M_solar. Assuming that the line-emitter can be modelled as a rotating disk, an inclination-dependent upper limit is derived for its dynamical mass M_dyn sin^2(i) < 3.2 x 10^9 M_solar, suggesting that for M_H2 to remain less than M_dyn the inclination angle must be i < 16 degrees. The far infrared and CO luminosities of 246 extragalactic systems are collated from the literature for comparison. The high molecular gas content of 3C318 is consistent with that of the general population of high redshift quasars and sub-millimetre galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

The cosmic spin of the most massive black holes

Under the assumption that jets in active galactic nuclei are powered by accretion and the spin of the central supermassive black hole, we are able to reproduce the radio luminosity functions of high- and low-excitation galaxies. High-excitation galaxies are explained as high-accretion rate but very low spin objects, while low-excitation galaxies have low accretion rates and bimodal spin distributions, with approximately half of the population having maximal spins. At higher redshifts (z~1), the prevalence of high accretion rate objects means the typical spin was lower, while in the present day Universe is dominated by low accretion rate objects, with bimodal spin distributions.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

The stellar, molecular gas and dust content of the host galaxies of two z~2.8 dust obscured quasars

We present optical through radio observations of the host galaxies of two dust obscured, luminous quasars selected in the mid-infrared, at z=2.62 and z=2.99, including a search for CO emission. Our limits on the CO luminosities are consistent with these objects having masses of molecular gas <~10^10 solar masses, several times less than those of luminous submillimeter-detected galaxies (SMGs) at comparable redshifts. Their near-infrared spectral energy distributions, however, imply that these galaxies have high stellar masses (~10^11-12 solar masses). The relatively small reservoirs of molecular gas and low dust masses are consistent with them being relatively mature systems at high-z.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Evidence for cosmic evolution in the spin of the most massive black holes

We use results from simulations of the production of magnetohydrodynamic jets around black holes to derive the cosmic spin history of the most massive black holes. We assume that the efficiency of jet production is a monotonic function of spin a, as given by the simulations, and that the accretion flow geometry is similarly thick for quasars accreting close to the Eddington ratio and for low-excitation radio galaxies accreting at very small Eddington rates. We use the ratio of the comoving densities of the jet power and the radiated accretion power associated with supermassive black holes with Mbh>~10^8 Msol to estimate the cosmic history of the characteristic spin a. The evolution of this ratio, which increases with decreasing z, is consistent with a picture where the z~0 active galactic nuclei have typically higher spins than those at z~2 (with typical values a~0.35-0.95 and a~0.0-0.25 respectively). We discuss the implications in terms of the relative importance of accretion and mergers in the growth of supermassive black holes with Mbh>~10^8 Msol.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Observational constraints on the spin of the most massive black holes from radio observations

We use recent progress in simulating the production of magnetohydrodynamic jets around black holes to derive the cosmic spin history of the most massive black holes, with masses >~10^8 Msol. Assuming the jet efficiency depends on spin a, we can approximately reproduce the observed `radio loudness' of quasars and the local radio luminosity function. Using the X-ray luminosity function and the local mass function of supermassive black holes, SMBHs we can reproduce the individual radio luminosity functions of radio sources showing high- and low-excitation narrow emission lines. The data favour spin distributions that are bimodal, with one component around spin zero and the other close to maximal spin. In the low-excitation galaxies, the two components have similar amplitudes. For the high-excitation galaxies, the amplitude of the high-spin peak is typically much smaller than that of the low-spin peak. A bimodality should be seen in the radio loudness of quasars. We predict that the low-excitation galaxies are dominated by SMBHs with masses >~10^8 Msol, down to radio luminosity densities ~10^21 W Hz-1 sr-1 at 1.4~GHz. Our model is also able to predict the radio luminosity function at z=1, and predicts it to be dominated by high-excitation galaxies above luminosity densities >~10^26 W Hz-1 sr-1, in full agreement with the observations. From our parametrisation and using the best fitting jet efficiencies there is marginal evidence for evolution in spin: the mean spin increases slightly from ~0.25 at z=1 to ~0.35 at z=0, and the fraction of SMBHs with a>=0.5 increases from 0.16+-0.03 at z=1 to 0.24+-0.09 at z=0. Our results are in excellent agreement with the mean radiative efficiency of quasars, as well as recent cosmological simulations. We discuss the implications in terms of accretion and SMBH mergers, and galactic black holes (Abridged).

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

The star formation history of mass-selected galaxies in the COSMOS field

We explore the evolution of the specific star formation rate (SSFR) for 3.6um-selected galaxies of different M_* in the COSMOS field. The average SFR for sub-sets of these galaxies is estimated with stacked 1.4GHz radio continuum emission. We separately consider the total sample and a subset of galaxies (SF) that shows evidence for substantive recent star formation in the rest-frame optical SED. At 0.2 2, at least above 4x10^10M_Sun where our conclusions are most robust. We find a tight correlation with power-law dependence, SSFR (M_*)^beta, between SSFR and M_* at all z. It tends to flatten below ~10^10M_Sun if quiescent galaxies are included; if they are excluded a shallow index beta_SFG -0.4 fits the correlation. On average, higher M_* objects always have lower SSFRs, also among SF galaxies. At z>1.5 there is tentative evidence for an upper SSFR-limit that an average galaxy cannot exceed. It is suggested by a flattening of the SSFR-M_* relation (also for SF sources), but affects massive (>10^10M_Sun) galaxies only at the highest z. Below z=1.5 there thus is no direct evidence that galaxies of higher M_* experience a more rapid waning of their SSFR than lower M_* SF systems. In this sense, the data rule out any strong 'downsizing'. We combine our results with recent measurements of the galaxy (stellar) mass function in order to determine the characteristic mass of a SF galaxy (M_*=10^(10.6\pm0.4)M_Sun). In this sense, too, there is no 'downsizing'. Our analysis constitutes the most extensive SFR density determination with a single technique to z=3. Recent Herschel results are consistent with our results, but rely on far smaller samples.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Evidence for a maximum jet efficiency for the most powerful radio galaxies

We use new mid-infrared (mid-IR) photometry from the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the relations between low-frequency radio luminosity density L_151MHz, mid-IR (12um rest-frame) luminosity L_12um, and optical-emission-line ([OII]) luminosity L_[OII], for a complete sample of z~1 radio galaxies from the 3CRR, 6CE, 6C*, 7CRS and TOOT00 surveys. The narrow redshift span of our sample (0.9<z<1.1) means that it is unbiased to evolutionary effects. We find evidence that these three quantities are positively correlated. The scaling between L_12um and L_[OII] is similar to that seen in other AGN samples, consistent with both L_12um and L_[OII] tracing accretion rate. We show that the positive correlation between L_12um and L_151MHz implies that there is a genuine lack of objects with low values of L_12um at high values of L_151MHz. Given that L_12um traces accretion rate, while L_151MHz traces jet power, this can be understood in terms of a minimum accretion rate being necessary to produce a given jet power. This implies that there is a maximum efficiency with which accreted energy can be chanelled into jet power and that this efficiency is of order unity.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Millimetre observations of a sample of high-redshift obscured quasars

We present observations at 1.2 mm with MAMBO-II of a sample of z>~2 radio-intermediate obscured quasars, as well as CO observations of two sources with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer. Five out of 21 sources (24%) are detected at a significance of >=3sigma. Stacking all sources leads to a statistical detection of = 0.96+-0.11 mJy and stacking only the non-detections also yields a statistical detection, with = 0.51+-0.13 mJy. This corresponds to a typical far-infrared luminosity L_FIR~4x10^12 Lsol. If the far-infrared luminosity is powered entirely by star-formation, and not by AGN-heated dust, then the characteristic inferred star-formation rate is ~700 Msol yr-1. This far-infrared luminosity implies a dust mass of M_dust~3x10^8 Msol. We estimate that such large dust masses on kpc scales can plausibly cause the obscuration of the quasars. We present dust SEDs for our sample and derive a mean SED for our sample. This mean SED is not well fitted by clumpy torus models, unless additional extinction and far-infrared re-emission due to cool dust are included. There is a hint that the host galaxies of obscured quasars must have higher far-infrared luminosities and cool-dust masses and are therefore often found at an earlier evolutionary phase than those of unobscured quasars. For one source at z=2.767, we detect the CO(3-2) transition, with S_CO Delta nu=630+-50 mJy km s-1, corresponding to L_CO(3-2)= 3.2x10^7 Lsol, or L'_CO(3-2)=2.4x10^10 K km s-1 pc2. For another source at z=4.17, the lack of detection of the CO(4-3) line yields a limit of L'_CO(4-3)<1x10^10 K km s-1 pc2. Molecular gas masses, gas depletion timescales and gas-to-dust ratios are estimated (Abridged).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2008

An 80-kpc Lyman-alpha halo around a high redshift type-2 QSO

We announce the discovery of an extended emission line region associated with a high redshift type-2 QSO. The halo, which was discovered in our new wide-field narrow-band survey, resides at z = 2.85 in the Spitzer First Look Survey region and is extended over ~80 kpc. Deep VLBI observations imply that approximately 50 per cent of the radio emission is extended on scales > 200pc. The inferred AGN luminosity is sufficient to ionize the extended halo, and the optical emission is consistent with being triggered coevally with the radio source. The Lyman-alpha halo is as luminous as those found around high redshift radio galaxies, however the active nucleus is several orders of magnitude less luminous at radio wavelengths than those FRIIs more commonly associated with extended emission line regions. AMS05 appears to be a high-redshift analogue to the radio-quiet quasar E1821+643 which is core dominated but which also exhibits extended FRI-like structure and contains an optically powerful AGN. We also find evidence for more quiescent kinematics in the Lyman-alpha emission line in the outer regions of the halo, reminiscent of the haloes around the more powerful FRIIs. The optical to mid-infrared SED is well described by a combination of an obscured QSO (L_bol ~3.4 +/- 0.2 x 10^13 Lsolar) and a 1.4 Gyr old simple stellar population with mass ~3.9 +/- 0.3 x 10^11 Msolar.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The cosmological consequence of an obscured AGN population on the radiation efficiency

In light of recent indications for a large population of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs), we revisit the mean radiation efficiency from accretion onto supermassive black holes (SMBHs), epsilon, applying a bayesian approach. We use the integrated comoving energy density emitted by AGNs and compare it to the mass density of local SMBHs. When considering only optically-selected unobscured AGNs, we derive log_10[epsilon]=-1.77+0.16-0.11 or epsilon=1.7+0.8-0.4%. Using the AGNs selected using hard X-rays, which include unabsorbed and Compton-thin absorbed AGNs, we find log_10[epsilon]=-1.20+0.15-0.10 or epsilon=6.4+2.6-1.3%. Using optically-selected AGNs, and correcting for the obscured population, we inferr log_10[epsilon]=-1.17+0.11-0.08 or epsilon=6.7+1.9-1.1%, which we consider our best estimate. We also repeat this calculation for intrinsically luminous AGNs (M_B<-23, quasars), comparing to the SMBH mass density in local elliptical galaxies, and find log_10[epsilon]=-1.27+0.15-0.11 or epsilon=5.4+2.2-1.2%. We discuss how our results can be used to estimate the mean spin of accreting SMBHs, both assuming the standard thin-disk model of accretion onto black holes and also comparing to more recent simulations. Our results can rule out maximally rotating SMBHs ( =0.998 Gm_bh/c^2) at the >=98% confidence level, as well as high rotation values ( >=0.9 Gm_bh/c^2) with >=92% confidence. Our preferred values of are ~0.25-0.60 Gm_bh/c^2, although even these might be overestimated. Hence, we find that on average, SMBHs are not rapidly spinning during accretion. Finally, using an independent measurement of Eddington ratios, we estimate the SMBH e-folding time for the brightest AGNs (quasars) to be =100+151-60 Myr.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Emission line activity in type 2 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We have compared the optical emission line ratios of type 2 quasars from Zakamska et al. with standard AGN photoionization model predictions, Seyfert 2s, HII galaxies, and narrow line FRII radio galaxies. Moderate to high ionization narrow line radio galaxies and Seyfert 2s are indistinguishable from type 2 quasars based on their optical line ratios. The standard AGN photoionization models, widely discussed for other type 2 AGNs, can reproduce successfully the loci and trends of type 2 quasars in some of the main diagnostic diagrams. These models are not exempt of problems and the discrepancies with the data are the same encountered for other type 2 AGNs. As for these, realistic models must take into account a range of cloud properties, as widely demonstrated in the literature. We also study the possible impact of stellar photoionization.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of high-redshift obscured quasars

We present mid-infrared observations of 18 sources from a sample of 21 z~2 radio-intermediate obscured quasars. The mid-infrared spectra of the sources are continuum dominated, and 12 sources show deep silicate absorption with tau_9.7~1-2. Combining mid-infrared and optical spectra, we achieve 86% spectroscopic completeness which allows us to confirm that most (63 +14 -22 %) z~2 radio-intermediate quasars are obscured. The new spectra also prove that many high-redshift type-2 quasars do not show any rest-frame ultraviolet emission lines. From the 18 individual mid-infrared spectra, we classify most of the sources into three subsamples: those with hints of the 7.7 and 6.2 micron polyaromatic hydrocarbons (3/18 sources show PAHs, subsample A), those with an excess of emission around 8 micron but no hint of the 6.2 micron PAH (7/18 cases, subsample B) and pure-continuum sources with no visible excess (4/18 sources, subsample C). The remaining 4/18 sources have spectra that are featureless or too noisy for any features to be visible. In subsample A, averaging the spectra leads to a statistical detection of both 6.2 and 7.7 micron PAHs over the continuum, with the strength of the 7.7 micron PAH comparable to that of submillimetre-selected galaxies (SMGs) at similar redshifts. These sources are in a phase of coeval growth of a supermassive black hole and a host galaxy.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Evidence for a Population of High-Redshift Submillimeter Galaxies from Interferometric Imaging

We have used the Submillimeter Array to image a flux limited sample of seven submillimeter galaxies, selected by the AzTEC camera on the JCMT at 1.1 mm, in the COSMOS field at 890um with 2" resolution. All of the sources - two radio-bright and five radio-dim - are detected as single point-sources at high significance (> 6σ), with positions accurate to 0.2" that enable counterpart identification at other wavelengths observed with similarly high angular resolution. All seven have IRAC counterparts, but only two have secure counterparts in deep HST/ACS imaging. As compared to the two radio-bright sources in the sample, and those in previous studies, the five radio-dim sources in the sample (1) have systematically higher submillimeter-to-radio flux ratios, (2) have lower IRAC 3.6-8.0um fluxes, and (3) are not detected at 24um. These properties, combined with size constraints at 890um (θ< 1.2"), suggest that the radio-dim submillimeter galaxies represent a population of very dusty starbursts, with physical scales similar to local ultraluminous infrared galaxies, and an average redshift higher than radio-bright sources.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Evidence for a large fraction of Compton-thick quasars at high redshift

Using mid-infrared and radio selection criteria, we pre-select a sample of candidate high-redshift type-2 quasars in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field (SXDF). To filter out starburst contaminants, we use a bayesian method to fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) between 24-microns and B-band, obtain photometric redshifts, and identify the best candidates for high-z type-2 quasars. This leaves us with 12 z_phot >= 1.7 type-2 quasar candidates in an area ~0.8 deg^2, of which only two have secure X-ray detections. The two detected sources have estimated column densities N_H~2 & 3x10^27 m^-2, i.e. heavily obscured but Compton-thin quasars. Given the large bolometric luminosities and redshifts of the undetected objects, the lack of X-ray detections suggests extreme absorbing columns N_H >= 10^28 m^-2 are typical. We have found evidence for a population of ``Compton-thick'' high-redshift type-2 quasars, at least comparable to, and probably larger than the type-1 quasar population, although spectroscopic confirmation of their AGN nature is important.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

High-redshift obscured quasars

Using mid-infrared and radio criteria, we select a sample of candidate z~2 obscured quasars. Optical spectroscopy confirms about half of these as type-2 quasars, and modelling the population suggests 50-80% of the quasars are obscured. We find some flat radio spectrum type-2 quasars, and tentative evidence for obscuration unrelated to the torus. Using a similar sample, we also find evidence for a significant fraction of Compton-thick quasars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Molecular gas observations of the reddened quasar 3C 318

3C 318 is a z=1.574 radio-loud quasar. The small physical size of its radio jets indicate that these jets were triggered relatively recently. In addition to the ultraviolet continuum emission being reddened by dust, detections with IRAS and SCUBA show it to have an exceptionally high far-infrared luminosity. We present CO(2-1) observations of 3C 318 made with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. We detect CO(2-1) emission with a FWHM=200 km/s at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5.4. There is evidence for positional (~ 20 kpc) and velocity (~ -400 km/s) offsets between the molecular gas and the quasar which may be due to the quasar experiencing a major merger. The mass of molecular gas inferred from our observations is M_{H_2}=(3.0 +/- 0.6) x 10^{10} M_sun. This molecular gas mass is comparable to that in sub-mm-selected galaxies at similar redshifts. The large molecular gas mass is consistent with the primary source of heating for the cool dust in this quasar to be massive star formation with a star formation rate of 1700 M_sun/yr and a gas depletion timescale of 20 Myr. Our observations support the idea that star formation episodes and jet triggering can be synchronised.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Radio imaging of the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field - I. The 100-microJy catalogue, optical identifications, and the nature of the faint radio source population

We describe deep radio imaging at 1.4-GHz of the 1.3 square degree Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field (SXDF), made with the Very Large Array in B and C configurations. We present a radio map of the entire field, and a catalogue of 505 sources covering 0.8 square degrees to a peak flux density limit of 100 microJy. Robust optical identifications are provided for 90% of the sources, and suggested IDs are presented for all but 14 (of which 7 are optically blank, and 7 are close to bright contaminating objects). We show that the optical properties of the radio sources do not change with flux density, suggesting that AGNs continue to contribute significantly at faint flux densities. We test this assertion by cross-correlating our radio catalogue with the X-ray source catalogue and conclude that radio-quiet AGNs become a significant population at flux densities below 300 microJy, and may dominate the population responsible for the flattening of the radio source counts if a significant fraction of them are Compton-thick.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

A population of high-redshift type-2 quasars-II. Radio Properties

We present multi-frequency radio observations of a sample of z~2 obscured (type-2) quasars in the Spitzer extragalactic First Look Survey area. We combine the public data at 1.4 GHz, used in the selection of these sources, with new observations at 610 MHz (GMRT) and at 4.9 GHz (VLA). We find the sample includes sources with steep, flat and gigahertz-peaked spectra. There are no strong correlations between the presence or absence of emission lines in the optical spectra and the radio spectral properties of the sample. However, there are no secure flat-spectrum type-2 quasars with narrow emission lines which would be problematic for unified schemes. Most of the population have straight radio spectra with spectral index alpha~1 as is expected for developed, potentially FRI-like, jets in which continous injection of relativistic electrons is accompanied by inverse-Compton losses against the cosmic microwave background.

astro-ph↗