A JWST/NIRSpec First Census of Broad-line AGNs at z = 4–7: Detection of 10 Faint AGNs with M BH ∼ 10 6 –10 8 M ⊙ and Their Host Galaxy Properties

Abstract We present the first statistical sample of faint type 1 AGNs at z > 4 identified by JWST/NIRSpec deep spectroscopy. Among the 185 galaxies at z spec = 3.8–8.9 confirmed with NIRSpec, our systematic search for broad-line emission reveals 10 type 1 AGNs at z = 4.015–6.936 whose broad component is only seen in the permitted H α line and not in the forbidden [O iii ] λ 5007 line that is detected with greater significance than H α . The broad H α line widths of FWHM ≃ 1000–6000 km s −1 suggest that the AGNs have low-mass black holes with M BH ∼ 10 6 –10 8 M ⊙ , remarkably lower than those of low-luminosity quasars previously identified at z > 4 with ground-based telescopes. JWST and Hubble Space…

• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Award: 21H04467