Probing the Nature of High-redshift Weak Emission Line Quasars: A Young Quasar with a Starburst Host Galaxy

Abstract

Abstract We present the discovery of PSO J083.8371+11.8482, a weak emission line quasar with extreme star formation rate at z = 6.3401. This quasar was selected from Pan-STARRS1, UHS, and unWISE photometric data. Gemini/GNIRS spectroscopy follow-up indicates a Mg ii-based black hole mass of M ⊙ and an Eddington ratio of , in line with an actively accreting supermassive black hole (SMBH) at z ≳ 6. Hubble Space Telescope imaging sets strong constraint on lens boosting, showing no relevant effect on the apparent emission. The quasar is also observed as a pure point source with no additional emission component. The broad-line region (BLR) emission is intrinsically weak and not likely caused by an intervening absorber. We found rest-frame equivalent widths of EW , EW Å (3σ upper limit), and EW . A small proximity zone size ( pMpc) indicates a lifetime of only years from the last quasar phase ignition. ALMA shows extended [C ii] emission with a mild velocity gradient. The inferred far-infrared luminosity ( ) is one of the highest among all known quasar hosts at z ≳ 6. Dust and [C ii] emissions put a constraint on the star formation rate of SFR = 900– , similar to that of a hyperluminous infrared galaxy. Considering the observed quasar lifetime and BLR formation timescale, the weak-line profile in the quasar spectrum is most likely caused by a BLR that is not yet fully formed rather than by continuum boosting by gravitational lensing or a soft continuum due to super-Eddington accretion.