arXiv subjects

Fabrizio Arrigoni Battaia

Publications and source records attributed to Fabrizio Arrigoni Battaia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cosmic web Ly$α$ emission in a sample of overdense regions

We present a complete and homogeneous analysis of the Ly$α$ emission properties of the cosmic web at $3 \lesssim z \lesssim 5$ as a function of the overdensity of Ly$α$ emitters (LAEs) in the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF) and the MUSE Extremely Deep Field (MXDF). We identify 41 overdensities, probing environments that are $δ\approx 2 - 10$ times denser than the field. We search for extended emission down to surface brightness (SB) levels of $3 - 5 \times 10^{-20}\ \mathrm{erg\ s^{-1}\ cm^{-2}\ arcsec^{-2}}$, revealing filamentary structures beyond the scale of the circumgalactic medium, confirming that LAEs act as signposts of the cosmic web. A trend with overdensity emerges: non-detections are mainly at $δ< 2$, a $\approx 1$ dex scatter in SB appears for $2 \lesssim δ\lesssim 3.5$, and detections reach a maximum intrinsic SB of $\approx 2 \times 10^{-19}\ \mathrm{erg\ s^{-1}\ cm^{-2}\ arcsec^{-2}}$ for $δ\gtrsim 3.5$. Emitting regions occupy a fraction of projected area $f_s \approx 0.20 - 0.25$ inside filaments, yielding a cosmological incidence for Ly$α$ emission in the cosmic web $\ell(\mathrm{Ly}α)$ of $\approx 1.22$, which is similar to the one of partially-neutral Lyman limit systems. This analysis indicates that the emitting gas is partially ionized at moderate densities ($n_{\mathrm{H}} \approx 10^{-3} - 10^{-1}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$), likely tracing the denser spines of intergalactic filaments and embedded substructures. Finally, we forecast how oriented stacking in larger samples of overdensities from shallower observations could yield an expanded view of the cosmic web before the next-generation wide-field spectroscopic instruments become operational.

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arXiv2026

Extreme Enrichment at Cosmic Dawn: Three FeII-Strong Quasars at z > 6 from the JWST Aether survey

We present three outliers on the quasar main sequence at z>6, as revealed by JWST/NIRSpec IFU observations from the Aether survey, a program targeting ~200 quasars at cosmic dawn. The quasars, J0216-5226, J0320-3521, and J1429+5447, exhibit exceptionally strong FeII emission and weak H$β$ and [OIII] lines, indicating rapid chemical enrichment within the first Gyr of cosmic history. Their FeII strengths ($R_{\rm{FeII},\lambda4570} \equiv \rm{EW}_{\rm{FeII}}/\rm{EW}_{\rm{H}β}$) range between ~2.5-3.6, placing them among the top ~3% of SDSS quasars at ($0\lesssim z\lesssim 1$). The H$α$ emission lines of J0216-5226 and J1429+5447 imply black hole masses of $\sim1-7\times10^9$ M$_{\odot}$ with $λ_{\rm{Edd}}\sim0.1-0.6$, comparable to typical high-z quasars, although virial black hole masses may be systematically overestimated in strong FeII emitters. In contrast, J0320-3521 hosts a lower mass black hole of $\sim0.2-2\times10^9$ M$_{\odot}$, suggesting possible super-Eddington rate accretion with $λ_{\rm{Edd}}$~0.5-6.0. The IFU data of J0320-3521 reveal a distinct emission-line region at a projected distance of ~1.5 kpc, consistent with either an interacting companion or ionized gas associated to the quasar. We further identify a complex environment around J1429+5447, including two candidate companion galaxies or extended ionized gas structures. These quasars with bright emission-line regions, J0320-3521 and J1429+5447, are radio-loud sources, while J0216-5226 remains undetected in radio ($R_{5\rm{GHz,} \,3σ}\lesssim4$). Together, these results confirm previous findings that highly enriched, rapidly growing black holes were already in place at cosmic dawn. Despite the small sample size, our results further highlight the diversity in environment and radio-jet properties among quasars that otherwise share the same extreme region of the quasar fundamental plane.

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arXiv2026

Tracing Warm Gas through C IV Radiative Transfer

The C IV $λ\lambda1548,1551$ resonance doublet is a key tracer of warm gas ($T\sim10^5\,{\rm K}$) within and around galaxies. Recent observations have detected this line in both absorption and emission, revealing asymmetric profiles in galaxies and spatially extended haloes around active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Resonance scattering can strongly modify the emergent spectra and spatial distributions, complicating their interpretation. Using 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations, we study C IV resonance scattering over a broad range of column densities, intrinsic emission-line widths, and outflow velocities. We find that multiple scattering broadens the line profile and, in outflowing media, modifies the doublet ratio, $R_{\rm CIV}$, defined as the flux ratio of the K and H components at 1548 and 1551 $\mathrm{\mathring{A}}$, respectively. When the outflow velocity approaches or exceeds the doublet separation ($\simeq500\,{\rm km\,s^{-1}}$), K-line photons are redistributed around the H component, driving $R_{\rm CIV}$ below its intrinsic value and, in optically thick fast outflows, even below unity. We also combine photoionization models with resonance scattering to investigate extended C IV haloes around AGNs and compare them with He II $\lambda1640$ emission. Simple photoionization models do not produce C IV emission more extended than He II, whereas resonance scattering redistributes locally produced and central-source C IV photons to larger radii. These results demonstrate that the C IV doublet ratio and spatial distribution provide complementary diagnostics of warm gas.

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arXiv2026

ALMA visits the QSO MUSEUM: Connecting molecular gas and the cool circumgalactic medium around 37 z~3 quasars

Extended Ly$α$ emission is ubiquitous around quasars and traces the cool circumgalactic medium, providing insights into halo gas dynamics and active galactic nucleus feedback. However, its connection to the cold molecular gas of the host galaxies remains largely unexplored. We characterize the molecular gas reservoirs of quasars at cosmic noon and investigate their connection to extended Ly$α$ emission using ALMA CO(4-3) observations of 37 quasars at $z\sim3$ from the QSO MUSEUM survey, previously mapped in Ly$α$ with VLT/MUSE. We derive molecular gas masses and gas fractions, explore correlations with Ly$α$ nebula and quasar properties, and search for CO-emitting companions. We detect 21/37 quasars in CO(4-3), with gas masses of $M_\mathrm{gas}\approx(3-40) \times10^9\,\mathrm{M_\odot}$. Quasars with the most massive molecular gas reservoirs are associated with the centrally dimmest Ly$α$ nebulae, while those hosting the centrally brightest Ly$α$ nebulae are generally not detected in CO. This suggests that gas and dust in the hosts regulate Ly$α$ escape and consequently affect the emission from halo gas. We find evidence that lower-Eddington-ratio quasars harbor more massive gas reservoirs, while strongly accreting quasars ($λ_\mathrm{Edd} \gtrapprox 0.9$) likely deplete their gas; for example, through powerful quasar-driven outflows. Despite their higher molecular gas masses within the sample, CO-detected low-Eddington quasars exhibit low gas fractions with a median $M_\mathrm{gas}/M_* \sim 0.10$, below what is typically found for inactive star-forming galaxies. Six quasars are marginally resolved in CO, with effective radii up to $\sim 8\,\mathrm{kpc}$. In addition, we detect 14 high-fidelity companion galaxies, indicating overdense quasar environments with a quasar-galaxy cross-correlation length of $9.81^{+2.22}_{-2.05}\,h^{-1}\mathrm{cMpc}$.

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arXiv2026

Aether-SHELLQs: JWST integral-field spectroscopy of candidate obscured quasars at z ~ 6

We present James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRSpec integral field unit (IFU) observations of six galaxies at $z \sim 6$, obtained as part of the Aether project (General Observers program 5645). The targets were originally identified by the Subaru High-$z$ Exploration of Low-Luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs) survey, as candidate obscured quasars with luminous ($\gtrsim10^{43}$ erg s$^{-1}$) but narrow ($\lesssim500$ km s$^{-1}$) Ly$α$ emission. Two objects exhibit a broad component in their Balmer lines (FWHM $>3000$ km s$^{-1}$), indicating the presence of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), while the remaining four show similar profiles in permitted and forbidden lines. Combining these data with similar SHELLQs objects reported previously, we find that the presence of broad lines is strongly correlated with Ly$α$ luminosity ($L_{\rm Lyα}$); the inferred AGN fraction is $>$77 % and $<$15 % above and below $L_{\rm Lyα} =10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$, respectively. Dust-extinction corrections inferred from the Balmer decrement would imply unrealistically high Ly$α$ luminosities, suggesting that the line-emitting gas consists of multiple zones. The IFU data reveal diverse spatial structures. The AGN hosts are compact, whereas the other galaxies show extended ionized gas on scales up to 10 kpc and star formation rates of 60 - 600 $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. One of the extended objects exhibits a signature of rotation, while most of the others show little ordered kinematics, with velocity widths (FWHM) up to 200 - 300 km s$^{-1}$. These objects populate the intermediate luminosity regime between classical luminous quasars and the low-luminosity AGNs discovered by JWST, including Little Red Dots, potentially linking the two populations.

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arXiv2026

A $z \sim$ 6.2 Quasar on the Local M$_{\rm BH}$-$σ_{\rm \ast}$ Relation Quenching Its Host Galaxy from the Aether Survey

We report JWST/NIRSpec integral field unit (IFU) observations of the quasar J1512$+$4422 at $z \sim 6.2$ from the Aether survey. At $\sim$900 Myr after the Big Bang, this object already lies on the $M_{\rm BH}$-$σ_\ast$ relation found in the local universe, with an $M_{\rm BH} \simeq 8.9\times10^8\,M_\odot$ and a stellar velocity dispersion $σ_\ast \simeq 288$ km s$^{-1}$. We detect an outflow with a velocity of $\sim$478 km s$^{-1}$ in the nuclear region, which likely extends to $\sim$3.2 kpc in projection and has a median velocity of $\sim$352 km s$^{-1}$. The outflow dynamical time scale ($\sim$ 9 Myr) is consistent with the time scale of the current quenching process based on the star formation history as reported previously. The total mass outflow rate (92.6$^{+92.6}_{-74.1}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$) is larger than the current star formation rate (0.9$^{+3.8}_{-0.8}$ or 4.3$^{+5.8}_{-3.7}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$), and the total kinetic energy outflow rate (0.6$^{+0.6}_{-0.5}$\% of quasar luminosity) meets the threshold for negative quasar feedback as suggested by simulations. These results suggest that the outflow is capable of suppressing/quenching the star formation activity within the host galaxy. Furthermore, J1512$+$4422 exhibits $σ_\ast$, stellar mass and size similar to those of $z \gtrsim$ 3 quiescent/post-starburst galaxies, implying a link between the two. Overall, for objects like J1512$+$4422, the evolution of their SMBHs and host galaxies appears to be tightly coupled within the first billion years. The quasar feedback likely plays a critical role in both placing them on the $M_{\rm BH}$--$σ_\ast$ relation and quenching.

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arXiv2026

Stellar feedback SPICEs up [C II] emission in the first galaxies

The bright [C II] 158 micron line is widely used to trace star-forming gas and feedback-driven outflows in high-redshift galaxies. Using the SPICE simulations, we investigate how bursty versus smooth stellar feedback shapes galaxy properties at z > 5 as traced by [C II] emission. All models exhibit a tight correlation between [C II] luminosity (L_[CII]) and star formation rate (SFR), though bursty feedback yields systematically lower L_[CII] at fixed SFR and larger intrinsic scatter. [C II] emission is more extended than rest-frame UV light by factors of ~2-4, consistent with ALMA observations. While outflows are ubiquitous and mass outflow rates scale with L_[CII] (reaching ~10 Msun/yr), the net mass flux remains inflow-dominated in [C II]-bright systems. The emission is dominated by low-velocity (|v_rad| < 200 km/s) cold gas, with fast outflows contributing little, causing [C II]-based kinematics to overestimate cold gas velocities and underestimate fast components by factors of ~2-5. Consequently, inferred mass-loading factors and wind energetics are biased low, and large line widths primarily reflect the gravitational potential rather than outflow speeds. Although [C II] spatial and spectral properties alone do not distinguish feedback models, gas kinematics provides a strong diagnostic: smooth feedback promotes earlier disk settling, yielding higher V/sigma and disk fractions (~48% vs. ~28% for bursty feedback at z = 5). Overall, [C II] robustly traces star formation but is a biased tracer of feedback-driven outflows, highlighting the need for multiwavelength constraints on the multiphase ISM.

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arXiv2026

Constraining the nature of active galactic nuclei through circumgalactic Lya emission at z=2-3

We present a comprehensive analysis of circumgalactic Lya nebulae around 59 unobscured and 26 obscured quasars at z=2-3, observed with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI), to constrain the nature of active galactic nuclei (AGN) at cosmic noon. We find that Lya nebulae around unobscured quasars are significantly less symmetric having a symmetry parameter of a_w=0.2-0.6 and more spatially extended having a scale length of r_h=10.7+/-0.5 kpc than those around obscured quasars (a_w=0.6-0.8; r_h=6.6-7.7 kpc).Unobscured quasars also exhibit steeply declining velocity dispersion profiles with the slope of -4.3+/-0.4 km s^-1 kpc^-1, indicative of large-scale outflows, whereas obscured quasars display flat profiles (-0.2+/-0.7 and -0.6+/-0.4 km s^-1 kpc^-1). The degree of quasar obscuration appears to be intrinsically linked to nebular asymmetry and extent, a relationship that could be in tension with the standard orientation-based AGN unified model, as it expects unobscured-quasar nebulae to be more symmetric and compact. These results naturally fit the evolutionary scenario, where AGN feedback drives a transition from an obscured to an unobscured phase-progressively redistributing gas to larger radii, introducing anisotropy, and driving turbulence. Taken together, our findings favor the evolutionary scenario over the purely orientation-based unified model for quasars at cosmic noon.

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arXiv2026

Exploring the gaseous halos of z>3 radio galaxies with UVES and JWST/NIRSpec

High-redshift radio galaxies (HzRGs) are among the most massive galaxies in the Universe and sites of extreme active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback processes, powering energetic radio jets. They are typically embedded in giant Ly$α$ halos that are known to extend over $100\,\text{kpc}$ into the circumgalactic medium (CGM). In this paper, we target the Ly$α$ halos around four high-redshift radio galaxies in a redshift range of 3.1 < z < 4.5 using high-resolution spectroscopy from the Ultraviolet Echelle Spectograph (UVES) at the VLT, focusing on absorption features in the Ly$α$ emission that trace neutral hydrogen (HI) systems. We compare the UVES data to Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations of the same targets and find that the higher spectral resolution of UVES ($Δv \approx 12\,\text{km} \text{s}^{-1}$) allows for a more complete identification of absorbers and reveals the splitting of deep absorbers into multiple components. We identify between 6 and 14 absorbers for each target in our sample with column densities of $N_{\text{HI}} = 10^{12}-10^{17}\,\text{cm}^{-2}$. About 70 % of the absorbers can be spatially resolved along the radio jet axis, showing minimal variation in column densities over extents of more than 30 kpc. Our results indicate that a fraction of the absorbers may be physically associated with the host systems. Complementary JWST/NIRSpec observations of two of the targets, 4C+03.24 and TNJ0205, reveal potential outflows in the ionized interstellar medium (ISM). We discuss a kinematic link between the [OIII]-emitting gas and the cool halo gas as traced by Ly$α$, suggesting a common outflow origin.

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arXiv2025

Bayesian luminosity function estimation in multi-depth datasets with selection effects: A case study for $3<z<5$ Lyman $α$ emitters

We present a hierarchical Bayesian framework designed to infer the luminosity function of any class of object by jointly modelling data from multiple surveys with varying depth, completeness, and sky coverage. Our method explicitly accounts for selection effects and measurement uncertainties (e.g. in luminosity) and can be generalized to any extensive quantity, such as mass. We validated the model using mock catalogues; from this we determined that deep data reaching $\gtrsim 1.5$ dex below a characteristic luminosity ($\tilde{L}^\star$) are essential to reducing biases at the faint end ($\lesssim 0.1$ dex) and that wide-area data help constrain the bright end. As a proof of concept, we considered a combined sample of 1176 Lyman $α$ emitters at redshift $3 < z < 5$ drawn from several MUSE surveys, ranging from ultra-deep ($\gtrsim 90$ hr) and narrow ($\lesssim 1$ arcmin$^2$) fields to shallow ($\lesssim 5$ hr) and wide ($\gtrsim 20$ arcmin$^2$) fields. With this complete sample, we constrain the luminosity function parameters $\log(Φ^\star/\mathrm{Mpc^{-3}}) = -2.86^{+0.15}_{-0.17}$, $\log(L^\star/\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}) = 42.72^{+0.10}_{-0.09}$, and $α= -1.81^{+0.09}_{-0.09}$, where the uncertainties represent the $90\%$ credible intervals. These values are in agreement with the results of studies based on gravitational lensing that reach $\log(L/\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}) \approx 41$, although differences in the faint-end slope underscore how systematic errors are starting to dominate. In contrast, wide-area surveys represent the natural extension needed to constrain the brightest Lyman $α$ emitters [$\log(L/\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}) \gtrsim 43$], where statistical uncertainties still dominate.

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arXiv2025

BEES: Quasar lifetime measurements from extended rest-optical emission line nebulae at $z\sim6$

Measurements of quasar lifetimes at high redshift indicate that the earliest billion-solar-mass supermassive black holes (SMBHs) have only been active as luminous quasars for less than a million years. Recently, extended Ly$α$ nebulae around $z\sim6$ quasars have revealed that these short observed lifetimes are unlikely a sightline-dependent effect. However, the interpretation of Ly$α$ emission is not straightforward due to its resonant nature. In this work, we use rest-frame optical emission lines, which more directly trace photoionization by the quasar, to unambiguously validate the short line-of-sight quasar lifetimes observed at early cosmic epochs. We use deep James Webb Space Telescope/NIRSpec IFU observations of five $z\sim 6$ quasars with small proximity zones to search for their extended emission line nebulae in H$α$ and [O III]$5007$, and detect extended emission in both emission lines around four quasars in our sample. We then use the light-crossing time of these nebulae to measure quasar lifetimes along transverse sightlines. Using their H$α$ nebulae, we also confirm that recombination is likely the dominant emission mechanism behind their previously detected Ly$α$ nebulae. Our results confirm the existence of high-redshift quasars with extremely short lifetimes, $t_{\rm Q} \lesssim 10^{5}\ {\rm yr}$, hosting billion-solar-mass black holes, indicating that rapid accretion is likely responsible for the assembly of SMBHs in the early Universe.

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arXiv2025

A MUltiwavelength Study of ELAN Environments (AMUSE$^2$): The Impact of Dense Environment on Massive Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies at Cosmic Noon

To understand how massive galaxies are influenced by their surroundings, we present new ALMA and NOEMA observations as part of A MUltiwavelength Study of ELAN Environments (AMUSE$^2$). These observations target submillimeter sources discovered in single-dish surveys around nine quasars hosting Ly$α$ nebulae at $z=2\sim3$, including two Enormous Ly$α$ nebulae (ELANe). Through detection of mid-$J$ CO lines, we confirm physical associations of 15 SMGs, which are located outside the expected virial radii of the central dark-matter halos hosting the quasars. We find $73^{+29}_{-21}\%$ of SMGs have line profiles better described by double Gaussian models, with a median peak-to-peak separation of 350 $\pm$ 25 km/s, suggesting rotating disks or interacting pairs. Modified blackbody fits of the far-infrared photometry yield a median $β$ of 2.0 $\pm$ 0.2 and $T_{dust}$ of 34 $\pm$ 3 K. Overall, SMGs outside quasar halos share similar physical properties with those in the field, but combining data from other studies reveals depleted gas fractions within quasar halos. This suggests that dense environments significantly impact massive star-forming galaxies only within halo scales at cosmic noon. Additionally, spatial analyses of 15 SMGs indicate they trace large-scale structures, possibly filamentary or elongated pancake-like, with a scale height of 2-5\,cMpc. Our measured distributions and densities of star-formation rates align with models, though likely represent lower limits.

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arXiv2025

Testing the AGN unified model with simulated emission lines from the circumgalactic medium (CGM)

The CGM around unobscured AGN has received much attention in recent years. Comparatively, nebulae associated with obscured AGN are less studied. Here, we simulate the Ly$α$, H$α$, and HeII nebulae around the two types of AGN at $z=2-3$ with ten massive systems from the FIRE simulations based on the unified model to show their differences and to test if they can be used to constrain the AGN model. We post-process the data with the CLOUDY and the Ly$α$ radiative transfer code, RASCAS. Overall, we find that the Ly$α$ nebulae around the unobscured AGN (type-I nebulae) and obscured AGN (type-II nebulae) do not exhibit significant differences in the luminosity, area, and HeII/Ly$α$ when the simulated cutout is set to the halo virial radius. Whereas, the type-II nebulae exhibit less symmetric morphologies, flatter surface brightness profiles, and larger emission line widths (at $R\geq 10$ kpc) than those of the type-I nebulae. These nebulae properties exhibit complicated correlations with the AGN, indicating that nebulae observations can be applied to constrain the AGN engine. However, independent observations on nebulae in the mentioned emissions are insufficient to test the unified model as a priori in observations is not possible to know the direction and opening angle of the ionization cone. We prompt that the joint observations of Ly$α$ nebulae and radio jets can help to reveal the ionization cone to probe the unified model. Our calculations suggest that this method requires $\geq 75$ type-II Ly$α$ nebulae with current instruments to reach a confidence level of $\geq 95\%$.

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arXiv2025

QSO MUSEUM III: the circumgalactic medium in Ly$α$ emission around 120 $z\sim3$ quasars covering the SDSS parameter space. Witnessing the instantaneous AGN feedback on halo scales

Recent surveys show that $z>2$ quasars are surrounded by Hydrogen Lyman-$α$ (Ly$α$) glows with diverse emission levels and extents. These seem to depend on the activity of embedded quasars, the number of active galactic nucleus (AGN) photons able to reach the halo gas or circumgalactic medium (CGM) and the physical properties of the CGM. In this framework, we present VLT/MUSE snapshot observations (45 min/source) of 59 $z\sim3$ quasars extending the long-term QSO MUSEUM campaign to fainter SDSS sources. The whole survey now targets 120 quasars with a median redshift of $z$=3.13, and bolometric luminosities, black hole masses and Eddington ratios of $45.1<\log(L_{\rm bol}/[{\rm erg\,s^{-1}]})<48.7$, $7.9<\log(M_{\rm BH}/[{\rm M_{\odot}]})<10.3 $ and $0.01<λ_{\rm Edd}<1.8$, respectively. We detect extended Ly$α$ emission in 110/120 systems, with all non-detections in the new fainter sample. Stacking non-detections unveils emission below our individual detection limit. The Ly$α$ surface brightness (SB$_{\rm Lyα}$) of the CGM increases with quasar luminosity. Moreover, the Ly$α$ linewidth increases in the central regions (projected radius $R<40$ kpc or $\sim$40% $R_{\rm vir}$) of the CGM around brighter quasars. These trends indicate that we are witnessing the instantaneous AGN feedback in action on CGM scales. Assuming that all targeted quasars sit in halos of $M_{\rm DM}\sim10^{12.5}\,M_\odot$, as found in clustering studies, the trend in SB$_{\rm Lyα}$ can be explained by larger fractions of cool gas mass illuminated, implying that brighter quasars have larger ionization cone opening angles. Similarly, brighter AGNs seem to perturb the cool ($T\sim10^4$ K) gas more strongly. We show that QSO MUSEUM now has enough statistics to study the instantaneous AGN feedback while controlling for black hole properties, which are key to constraining AGN models.

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arXiv2025

Submillimeter galaxy overdensities around physically associated quasar pairs

A commonly employed method to detect protoclusters in the young universe is the search for overdensities of massive star forming galaxies, such as submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), around high-mass halos, including those hosting quasars. In this work, we study the Megaparsec environment surrounding nine physically associated quasar pairs between $z=2.45$ and $z=3.82$ with JCMT/SCUBA-2 observations at 450 $μ$m and 850 $μ$m covering a field of view of roughly 13.7 arcmin in diameter (or 32 Mpc$^2$ at the median redshift) for each system. We identify a total of 170 SMG candidates and 26 non-SMG and interloper candidates. A comparison of the underlying 850 $μ$m source models recovered with Monte Carlo simulations to the blank field model reveals galaxy overdensities in all fields, with a weighted average overdensity factor of $δ_{\rm cumul} = 3.4 \pm 0.3$. From this excess emission at 850 $μ$m, we calculate a star formation rate density of $1700 \pm 100$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$, consistent with predictions from protocluster simulations and observations. Compared to fields around single quasars, those surrounding quasar pairs have higher excess counts and more centrally peaked star formation, further highlighting the co-evolution of SMGs and quasars. We do not find preferential alignment of the SMGs with the quasar pair direction or their associated Ly$α$ nebulae, indicating that cosmic web filaments on different scales might be traced by the different directions. Overall, this work substantiates the reliability of quasar pairs to detect overdensities of massive galaxies and likely sites of protocluster formation. Future spectroscopic follow-up observations are needed to confirm membership of the SMG candidates with the physically associated quasar pairs and definitively identify the targeted fields as protoclusters.

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arXiv2025

The MUSE Ultra Deep Field: A 5 Mpc stretch of the z $\approx$ 4 cosmic web revealed in emission

We detect Ly$α$ emission from a ~5 Mpc-long (comoving) portion of the cosmic web hosting an overdensity ($δ\approx 25$) of 19 Ly$α$ emitters (LAEs) at $z\approx 4$ within the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF), reaching an average surface brightness (SB) of $5\times 10^{-20}~\rm{erg~s^{-1}~ cm^{-2}~arcsec^{-2}}$. This large-scale structure has an average SB similar to the filament across the two MUDF quasars at $z\approx 3.22$. However, deep multiwavelength data do not show a clear presence of active galactic nuclei, suggesting that the emission is mainly regulated by the underlying gas density. We find $\approx 0.2$ dex higher star formation compared to control samples and a remarkable predominance (5/7) of blue-peaked emission lines in the spectra of the embedded LAEs, indicative of favorable conditions for gas accretion. Lastly, we quantify the contribution of intragalactic gas to the Ly$α$ SB profile at large distances from LAEs. By studying samples of filaments detected in emission within diverse environments, we are finally gaining new insight into the physics of gas accretion within the cosmic web.

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arXiv2025

The SUPERCOLD-CGM survey: II. [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ emission and the physical conditions of cold gas in Enormous Ly$α$ nebulae at $z\,\sim\,2$

We report ALMA and ACA observations of atomic carbon ([\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$) and dust continuum in 10 Enormous Ly$α$ Nebulae hosting ultra-luminous Type-I QSOs at $z=2.2-2.5$, as part of the SUrvey of Protocluster ELANe Revealing CO/CI in the Ly$α$ Detected CGM (SUPERCOLD-CGM). We detect [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ and dust in all ten QSOs and five companion galaxies. We find that the QSOs and companions have higher gas densities and more intense radiation fields than Luminous Infrared galaxies and high-$z$ main sequence galaxies, with the highest values found in the QSOs. By comparing molecular gas masses derived from [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$, CO(4$-$3) and dust continuum, we find that the QSOs and companions display a similar low CO conversion factor of $α_{\rm CO}$\,$\sim$\,0.8 $\rm M_{\sun}$${[\rm K\,km/s\,pc^2]}^{-1}$. After tapering our data to low resolution, the [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ flux increases for nine QSOs, hinting at the possibility of [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ in the circum-galactic medium (CGM) on a scale of 16$-$40 kpc. However, the [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ sensitivity is too low to confirm this for individual targets, except for a tentative (2.7$σ$) CGM detection in Q0050+0051{} with M$_{\rm H_2}$\,=\, ($1.0 - 2.8$)$\times 10^{10}$ $\rm M_{\sun}$. The 3$σ$ mass limits of molecular CGM for the remaining QSO fields are ($0.2-1.4$)\,$\times$\,10$^{10}$ $\rm M_{\sun}$. This translates into a baryon fraction of $<$0.4-3$\% $ in the molecular CGM relative to the total baryonic halo mass. Our sample also includes a radio-detected AGN, Q1416+2649{}, which shows [\ion{C}{1}]$(1-0)$ and CO(4$-$3) luminosities an order of magnitude fainter for its far-infrared luminosity than other QSOs in our sample, possibly due to a lower molecular gas mass.

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arXiv2025

Direct high-resolution observation of feedback and chemical enrichment in the circumgalactic medium at redshift z ~ 2.8

The circumgalactic medium (CGM) plays a vital role in galaxy evolution, however, studying the emission from CGM is challenging due to its low surface brightness and the complexities involved in interpreting resonant lines such as Ly$α$. The near-infrared coverage, unprecedented sensitivity, and high spatial resolution of JWST enable us to study the optical strong lines associated with the extended Ly$α$ "nebulae" at redshifts of 2--3. These lines serve as diagnostic tools to infer the physical conditions in the CGM gas reservoir of these systems. In deep medium-band images taken by the JWST, we serendipitously discovered the [O III] emission from the CGM around a massive interacting galaxy system at a redshift z~2.8, known to be embedded in a bright extended (100 kpc) Ly$α$ "nebula." This is the first time that the [O III] lines have been detected from a Ly$α$ "nebula." The JWST images reveal that the CGM gas actually resides in narrow (~ 2.5 kpc) filamentary structures with strong [O III] emission, tracing the same extent as the Ly$α$ emission. An analysis of the [O III] suggests that the emitting CGM is fully ionized and is energetically dominated by mechanical heating. We also find that the density and pressure are higher than those commonly predicted by simulations of the CGM. We conclude that the observed CGM emission originates from the gas expelled by the episodic feedback processes, cooling down and enriching the CGM, while traveling a distance of at least 60 kpc. These observations demonstrate how intensive feedback processes shape gas distribution and properties in the CGM around massive halos. While access to such deep, high-resolution imaging opens up a new discovery space for investigating the CGM, it also challenges numerical simulations with respect to explaining and reproducing the exquisitely complex structures revealed by the observations.

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