First Results from the JWST Early Release Science Program Q3D: The Fast Outflow in a Red Quasar at z = 0.44
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Quasar feedback may play a key role in the evolution of massive galaxies. The dust-reddened quasar F2M110648.35+480712 at z = 0.4352 is one of the few cases at its redshift that exhibits powerful quasar feedback through bipolar outflows. Our new observation with the integral field unit mode of the Near-infrared Spectrograph on board JWST opens a new window to examine this spectacular outflow through the Paα emission line with ~3× better spatial resolution than previous work. The morphology and kinematics of the Paα nebula confirm the existence of a bipolar outflow extending on a scale of ∼17 × 14 kpc and with a velocity reaching ∼1100 km s−1. The higher spatial resolution of our new observation leads to more reliable measurements of outflow kinematics. Considering only the spatially resolved outflow and assuming an electron density of 100 cm−2, the mass, momentum, and kinetic energy outflow rates are ∼50–210 M ⊙ yr−1, ∼(0.3–1.7) × 1036 dynes (∼14%–78% of the quasar photon momentum flux), and ∼(0.16–1.27) × 1044 erg s−1 (∼0.02%–0.20% of the quasar bolometric luminosity), respectively. The local instantaneous outflow rates generally decrease radially. We infer that the quasar is powerful enough to drive the outflow, while stellar processes cannot be overlooked as a contributing energy source. The mass outflow rate is ∼0.4–1.5 times the star formation rate, and the ratio of kinetic energy outflow rate to the quasar bolometric luminosity is comparable to the minimum value required for negative quasar feedback in simulations. This outflow may help regulate the star formation activity within the system to some extent.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Authors: Weizhe 伟哲 Liu 刘, Sylvain Veilleux, Swetha Sankar, David S. N. Rupke, Nadia L. Zakamska, Dominika Wylezalek, Andrey Vayner, Caroline Bertemes, Yuzo Ishikawa, Yu-Ching Chen, Jenny E. Greene, Timothy Heckman, Guilin Liu, Hsiao-Wen Chen, Dieter Lutz, Sean D. Johnson, Nicole P. H. Nesvadba, Patrick Ogle, Nadiia Diachenko, Andy D. Goulding, Kevin N. Hainline, Fred Hamann, Hui Xian Grace Lim, Nora Lützgendorf, Vincenzo Mainieri, Ryan McCrory, Grey Murphree, Lu Shen, Eckhard Sturm, Lillian Whitesell
Institutions: Joint Space Science Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Johns Hopkins University, Rhodes College, Institute for Advanced Study, Heidelberg University, California Institute of Technology, Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Princeton University, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chicago, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, University of Michigan, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Lagrange Laboratory, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Space Telescope Science Institute, University of Arizona, University of California, Riverside, European Space Agency, European Southern Observatory, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaii System, Texas A&M University
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Awards: G2277499935, G2480022426
OpenAlex ID: W4407107985