Amy Rankine | Searcharxiv

arXiv2025

An Extremely-High Velocity Outflow in SMSS J2157-3602, the most luminous quasar in the first 1.3 Gyr

We report the discovery of an extremely high-velocity outflow (EHVO) in the most luminous ($L\rm_{Bol}$ $\sim$ 2.29 $\times$ 10$^{48}$ erg/s) QSO, SMSS J2157-3602, at z=4.692. Combined XSHOOTER and NIRES observations reveal that the EHVO reaches a maximum velocity of v$_\mathrm{max} \sim 0.13c$ and persists over rest-frame timescales of a few months to one year. SMSS J2157-3602 also exhibits one of the highest balnicity index discovered in an EHVO so far. In addition, the blueshifted CIV emission traces a high-velocity (v$\rm_{CIV}^{50}\sim$ 4660 km/s) outflow from the broad-line region. Thanks to an XMM-Newton observation, we also discover the X-ray weak nature of this QSO, which likely prevents the overionization of the innermost disk atmosphere and facilitates the efficient launch of the detected EHVO and BLR winds. The extraordinary luminosity of SMSS J2157-3602 and the extreme velocity of the EHVO make it a unique laboratory for testing AGN driven feedback under extreme conditions. Current uncertainties on the outflow's location and column density strengthen the case for dedicated follow-up, which will be essential to assess the full feedback potential of this remarkable quasar.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Connection between Emission and Absorption Outflows through the Study of Quasars with Extremely-High Velocity Outflows

A recently-discovered class of outflows, extremely high-velocity outflows (EHVOs), may be key to understanding feedback processes as it is likely the most powerful in terms of mass-energy. These EHVOs have been observed at redshifts 1.052 < z_em < 7.641, but the potential connection with outflows in emission had not been studied. We find that EHVOs, albeit their small numbers at the moment, appear to show distinct CIV and HeII properties. In particular, EHVOs are more predominant in quasars with large blueshifts of the CIV emission line, suggesting a connection between emission and absorption outflowing signatures for these extreme outflows. We also find incipient trends with the maximum velocity of the outflows, which is similar to what has been previously found in BALQSOs, but now extending previous studies to speeds up to ~0.2c. We find the bolometric luminosities, Eddington ratios, and black hole masses of our sample are overall very similar from the general quasar population upon considering their CIV emission properties. This is close to the case for HeII EW as we observe a tentative upper limit to the HeII strength for a quasar to host an EHVO. This study shows that extreme outflows such as EHVOs appear in quasars that are clearly a distinct class from the overall BALQSO population, and solidify the relation between outflows observed in emission and in absorption.

astro-ph.GA↗