A z ∼ 6.2 Quasar on the Local M BH – σ * 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 ∼ 6.2 from the Aether survey. At ∼900 Myr after the Big Bang, this object already lies on the M BH – σ * relation found in the local Universe, with an M BH ≃ 8.9 × 10 8 M ⊙ and a stellar velocity dispersion σ * ≃ 288 km s −1 . We detect an outflow with a velocity of ∼478 km s −1 in the nuclear region, which likely extends to ∼3.2 kpc in projection and has a median velocity of ∼352 km s −1 . The outflow dynamical timescale (∼9 Myr) is consistent with the timescale of the current quenching process based on the star formation history as reported previously. The total mass outflow rate (92.6 − 74.1 + 92.6 M ⊙ yr −1 ) is larger than the current star formation rate (0.9 − 0.8 + 3.8 or 4.3 − 3.7 + 5.8 M ⊙ yr −1 ), and the total kinetic energy outflow rate (0.6% − 0.5 % + 0.6 % of quasar luminosity) meets the threshold for negative quasar feedback as suggested by simulations. These results suggest that the outflow is capable of suppressing or quenching the star formation activity within the host galaxy. Furthermore, J1512+4422 exhibits σ * , stellar mass, and size similar to those of z ≳ 3 quiescent and poststarburst galaxies, implying a link between the two. Overall, for objects like J1512+4422, the evolution of their supermassive black holes 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 BH – σ * relation and quenching.