PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
November 8, 202534 citationsOpen Access

JADES: comprehensive census of broad-line AGN from Reionization to Cosmic Noon revealed by JWST

View Full Paper
IJIgnas JuodžbalisRMR. MaiolinoWBWilliam Baker

Key Points

  • Sub-Eddington ratios were observed in low luminosity active galactic nuclei, showing variances across cosmic epochs.
  • The sample analyzed includes 34 Type 1 AGN, demonstrating a redshift range from 1.5 to 9.
  • Analysis reveals that low mass galaxies host overmassive black holes relative to local scaling relations.
  • Findings support the need for improved diagnostics to identify Type 2 AGN, especially in low metallicity environments.

Abstract

The depth and coverage of the first years of JWST observations have revealed low luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGN) across a wide redshift range, shedding light on black hole (BH) assembly and feedback. We present our spectroscopic sample of 34 Type 1 AGN obtained from JADES survey data and spanning 1. 5 < z < 9. Our sample of AGN probes a BH mass range of 10^6-9~M_ at bolometric luminosities down to 10^43~erg~s^-1, implying generally sub-Eddington ratios of <0. 5L ₄₃₃. Most of these AGN are hosted in low mass (M_10⁸~M_) galaxies and are overmassive relative to the local M₁₇-M_ relation, while remaining consistent with the local M₁₇-_* relation. The wide redshift range provided by our sample allows us to trace the emergence of local M₁₇-M_* scaling relation across the cosmic epoch. Additionally, we explore the capability of narrow-line diagnostics in identifying Type 2 AGN and find that a significant fraction of our AGN would be missed by them due to low metallicity or lack of high energy ionizing photons (potentially due to dust absorption, dense gas blanketing the broad and narrow line regions, or intrinsically soft ionizing spectra). We explore the UV luminosity function of AGN and their hosts and find that it is subject to significant cosmic variance and is also dependent on the AGN bolometric luminosity. Finally, we show that the electron and Balmer scattering scenarios recently proposed to explain the broad components of the Balmer lines are untenable on multiple grounds. There is no evidence that the black hole masses have been overestimated by orders of magnitude as proposed in those scenarios.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Juodžbalis et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/690e8b75a5b062d7a4e737c6https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2504.03551
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper