High-redshift Quasars Research Articles

Multiple measurements of quasars acting as standard probes: Model independent calibration and exploring the dark energy equation of states

Recently, two classes of quasar samples were identified, which are promising as new cosmological probes extending to higher redshifts. The first sample uses the nonlinear relation between the ultraviolet and X-ray luminosities of quasars to derive luminosity distances, whereas the linear sizes of compact radio quasars in the second sample can serve as standardized rulers, providing angular-diameter distances. In this study, under the assumption of a flat universe, we refreshed the calibration of multiple measurements of high-redshift quasars (in the framework of a cosmological-model-independent method with the newest Hubble parameters data). Furthermore, we placed constraints on four models that characterize the cosmic equation of state ($w$). The obtained results show that: 1) the two quasar samples could provide promising complementary probes at much higher redshifts, whereas compact radio quasars perform better than ultraviolet and X-ray quasars at the current observational level; 2) strong degeneracy between the cosmic equation of state ($w$) and Hubble constant ($H_0$) is revealed, which highlights the importance of independent determination of $H_0$ from time-delay measurements of strongly lensed Quasars; 3)together with other standard ruler probes, such as baryon acoustic oscillation distance measurements, the combined QSO+BAO measurements are consistent with the standard $\Lambda$CDM model at a constant equation of state $w=-1$; 4) ranking the cosmological models, the polynomial parametrization gives a rather good fit among the four cosmic-equation-of-state models, whereas the Jassal-Bagla-Padmanabhan (JBP) parametrization is substantially penalized by the Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion criterion.

Observational properties of a general relativistic instability supernova from a primordial supermassive star

ABSTRACT We present the expected observational properties of a general relativistic instability supernova (GRSN) from the 55 500 M⊙ primordial (Population III) star. Supermassive stars exceeding $10^4\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ may exist in the early Universe. They are generally considered to collapse through the general relativistic instability to be seed black holes to form supermassive ($\sim 10^9\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$) black holes observed as high-redshift quasars. Some of them, however, may explode as GRSNe if the explosive helium burning unbinds the supermassive stars following the collapse triggered by the general relativistic instability. We perform the radiation hydrodynamics simulation of the GRSN starting shortly before the shock breakout. We find that the GRSN is characterized by a long-lasting (550 d) luminous ($1.5\times 10^{44}\, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$) plateau phase with the photospheric temperature of around 5000 K in the rest frame. The plateau phase lasts for decades when it appears at high redshifts and it will likely be observed as a persistent source in the future deep near-infrared imaging surveys. Especially, the near-infrared images reaching 29 AB magnitude that can be obtained by Galaxy and Reionization EXplorer (G-REX) and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) allow us to identify GRSNe up to z ≃ 15. Deeper images enable us to discover GRSNe at even higher redshifts. Having extremely red colour, they can be distinguished from other persistent sources such as high-redshift galaxies by using colour information. We conclude that the deep near-infrared images are able to constrain the existence of GRSNe from the primordial supermassive stars in the Universe even without the time domain information.

Extreme High-velocity Outflows from High-redshift BOSS Quasars

Abstract It is common to assume that all narrow absorption lines (NALs) at extreme high-velocity shifts form in cosmologically intervening gas or galaxies unrelated to quasars. However, previous detailed studies of individual quasars have shown that some NALs at these large velocity shifts do form in high-speed quasar ejecta. We search for extreme high-velocity NAL outflows (with speeds ∼0.1c–0.2c) based on relationships with associated absorption lines (AALs) and broad absorption-line (BAL) outflows. We find that high-velocity NALs are strongly correlated with AALs, BALs, and radio loudness, indicating that a significant fraction of high-velocity systems are either ejected from the quasars or form in material swept up by the radio jets (and are not unrelated intervening gas). We also consider line-locked C iv doublets as another indicator of high-velocity NALs formed in outflows. The fact that line-locked NALs are highly ionized and correlated with BAL outflows and radio-loud quasars implies that physical line locking due to radiative forces is both common and real, which provides indirect evidence that a significant fraction of high-velocity NALs are intrinsic to quasars.

Pure Density Evolution of the Ultraviolet Quasar Luminosity Function at 2 ≲ z ≲ 6

Abstract The quasar luminosity function (QLF) shows the active galactic nucleus (AGN) demography as a result of the combination of the growth and the evolution of black holes, galaxies, and dark matter halos along the cosmic time. The recent wide and deep surveys have improved the census of high-redshift quasars, making it possible to construct reliable ultraviolet (UV) QLFs at 2 ≲ z ≲ 6 down to M 1450 = − 23 mag. By parameterizing these up-to-date observed UV QLFs that are the most extensive in both luminosity and survey area coverage at a given redshift, we show that the UV QLF has a universal shape and its evolution can be approximated by a pure density evolution (PDE). In order to explain the observed QLF, we construct a model QLF employing the halo mass function, a number of empirical scaling relations, and the Eddington ratio distribution. We also include the outshining of AGN over its host galaxy, which made it possible to reproduce a moderately flat shape of the faint end of the observed QLF (slope of ∼ − 1.1). This model successfully explains the observed PDE behavior of UV QLF at z > 2, meaning that the QLF evolution at high redshift can be understood under the framework of halo mass function evolution. The importance of the outshining effect in our model also implies that there could be a hidden population of faint AGNs (M 1450 ≳ − 24 mag), which are buried under their host galaxy light.

First constraints on the AGN X-ray luminosity function atz~ 6 from an eROSITA-detected quasar

Context.High-redshift quasars signpost the early accretion history of the Universe. The penetrating nature of X-rays enables a less absorption-biased census of the population of these luminous and persistent sources compared to optical/near-infrared colour selection. The ongoing SRG/eROSITA X-ray all-sky survey offers a unique opportunity to uncover the bright end of the high-zquasar population and probe new regions of colour parameter space.Aims.We searched for high-zquasars within the X-ray source population detected in the contiguous ~140 deg2field observed by eROSITA during the performance verification phase. With the purpose of demonstrating the unique survey science capabilities of eROSITA, this field was observed at the depth of the final all-sky survey. The blind X-ray selection of high-redshift sources in a large contiguous, near-uniform survey with a well-understood selection function can be directly translated into constraints on the X-ray luminosity function (XLF), which encodes the luminosity-dependent evolution of accretion through cosmic time.Methods.We collected the available spectroscopic information in the eFEDS field, including the sample of all currently known optically selectedz> 5.5 quasars and cross-matched secure Legacy DR8 counterparts of eROSITA-detected X-ray point-like sources with this spectroscopic sample.Results.We report the X-ray detection of eFEDSU J083644.0+005459, an eROSITA source securely matched to the well-known quasar SDSS J083643.85+005453.3 (z= 5.81). The soft X-ray flux of the source derived from eROSITA is consistent with previousChandraobservations. The detection of SDSS J083643.85+005453.3 allows us to place the first constraints on the XLF atz> 5.5 based on a secure spectroscopic redshift. Compared to extrapolations from lower-redshift observations, this favours a relatively flat slope for the XLF atz~ 6 beyondL*, the knee in the luminosity function. In addition, we report the detection of the quasar with LOFAR at 145 MHz and ASKAP at 888 MHz. The reported flux densities confirm a spectral flattening at lower frequencies in the emission of the radio core, indicating that SDSS J083643.85+005453.3 could be a (sub-) gigahertz peaked spectrum source. The inferred spectral shape and the parsec-scale radio morphology of SDSS J083643.85+005453.3 indicate that it is in an early stage of its evolution into a large-scale radio source or confined in a dense environment. We find no indications for a strong jet contribution to the X-ray emission of the quasar, which is therefore likely to be linked to accretion processes.Conclusions.Our results indicate that the population of X-ray luminous AGNs at high redshift may be larger than previously thought. From our XLF constraints, we make the conservative prediction that eROSITA will detect ~90 X-ray luminous AGNs at redshifts 5.7 <z< 6.4 in the full-sky survey (De+RU). While subject to different jet physics, both high-redshift quasars detected by eROSITA so far are radio-loud; a hint at the great potential of combined X-ray and radio surveys for the search of luminous high-redshift quasars.

Test of the cosmic distance duality relation for arbitrary spatial curvature

ABSTRACT The cosmic distance duality relation (CDDR), η(z) = (1 + z)2dA(z)/dL(z) = 1, is one of the most fundamental and crucial formulae in cosmology. This relation couples the luminosity and angular diameter distances, two of the most often used measures of structure in the Universe. We here propose a new model-independent method to test this relation, using strong gravitational lensing (SGL) and the high-redshift quasar Hubble diagram reconstructed with a Bézier parametric fit. We carry out this test without pre-assuming a zero spatial curvature, adopting instead the value ΩK = 0.001 ± 0.002 optimized by Planck in order to improve the reliability of our result. We parametrize the CDDR using η(z) = 1 + η0z, 1 + η1z + η2z2, and 1 + η3z/(1 + z), and consider both the SIS and non-SIS lens models for the strong lensing. Our best-fitting results are: $\eta _0=-0.021^{+0.068}_{-0.048}$, $\eta _1=-0.404^{+0.123}_{-0.090}$, $\eta _2=0.106^{+0.028}_{-0.034}$, and $\eta _3=-0.507^{+0.193}_{-0.133}$ for the SIS model, and $\eta _0=-0.109^{+0.044}_{-0.031}$ for the non-SIS model. The measured η(z), based on the Planck parameter ΩK, is essentially consistent with the value (=1) expected if the CDDR were fully respected. For the sake of comparison, we also carry out the test for other values of ΩK, but find that deviations of spatial flatness beyond the Planck optimization are in even greater tension with the CDDR. Future measurements of SGL may improve the statistics and alter this result but, as of now, we conclude that the CDDR favours a flat Universe.

The Formation of Supermassive Black Holes at Early Universe

The high-redshift universe is now the frontier of modern astronomy, and is the key object for current and near-future telescopes. The high-redshift quasars put a tight constraint on existing BH growth model, as it is challenging to form a 1010 M⊙ BH at z∼6.In this work, we relax the widely-adopted Salpeter BH growth model, to consider a more realistic path. We consider the variation in the mass and angular momentum orientation of gas supply (i.e. through ∊L and n), as well as the change in accretion mode (hot versus cold). Moreover, the conventionally considered BH spin impact on the radiative efficiency ∊M is also taken into account. Our key results can be summarized as follows. Firstly, sufficient gas supply (larger in ∊L) is obviously a key factor to make the BH grow efficiently. Also, The BH spin (a*), through the radiative efficiency ∊M, has a dominant impact on the BH growth, i.e., those high-redshift quasars with MBH > 1010 M⊙ should be formed in a chaotic gas supply situation, where the angular momentum orientation of the gas is random. Finally, through analyzing the most realistic accretion model, we find that the only existing model of seed BH is through the direct collapse, driven by either dynamical processes or thermodynamics

Placing High-redshift Quasars in Perspective: A Catalog of Spectroscopic Properties from the Gemini Near Infrared Spectrograph–Distant Quasar Survey

Abstract We present spectroscopic measurements for 226 sources from the Gemini Near Infrared Spectrograph–Distant Quasar Survey (GNIRS-DQS). Being the largest uniform, homogeneous survey of its kind, it represents a flux-limited sample (m i ≲ 19.0 mag, H ≲ 16.5 mag) of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasars at 1.5 ≲ z ≲ 3.5 with a monochromatic luminosity ( ) at 5100 Å in the range of 1044–1046 erg s−1. A combination of the GNIRS and SDSS spectra covers principal quasar diagnostic features, chiefly the C iv λ1549, Mg ii λλ2798, 2803, Hβ λ4861, and [O iii] λλ4959, 5007 emission lines, in each source. The spectral inventory will be utilized primarily to develop prescriptions for obtaining more accurate and precise redshifts, black hole masses, and accretion rates for all quasars. Additionally, the measurements will facilitate an understanding of the dependence of rest-frame ultraviolet–optical spectral properties of quasars on redshift, luminosity, and Eddington ratio, and test whether the physical properties of the quasar central engine evolve over cosmic time.

Expanding or Static Universe: Emergence of a New Paradigm

The no-evolution, concordance expanding universe cosmology and no-evolution, static universe tired light model are compared against observational data on eight cosmology tests. The no-evolution tired light model is found to make a superior fit on all tests. Any attempts to introduce evolutionary corrections to improve the concordance cosmology fit on one test often worsen its fit on other tests. Light curve data of high redshift gamma ray bursts and quasars fail to support claims for cosmological time dilation due to expansion. Also, the SCP supernova light curve test results are considered to be flawed by selection effect biases. The big bang theory also has difficulty accounting for redshift quantization, for the multi-megaparsec periodicity seen in the distribution of galaxy superclusters, and for the discovery of galaxies at redshifts as high as z ~11.9. In overview, it is concluded that a static universe cosmology must be sought to explain the origin of the universe. One possible choice is a cosmology that predicts nonconservative tired-light redshifting in intergalactic space, the continuous creation of neutrons in space, the rate of matter creation scaling with both celestial body mass and temperature, galaxies growing progressively in size, and changing their morphology in the manner suggested by Jeans and Hubble.

Does Our Universe Conform with the Existence of a Universal Maximum Energy-Density <i>p<sub>max</sub><sup style="margin-left:-30px;">uni</sup></i>

Recent astronomical observations of high redshift quasars, dark matter-dominated galaxies, mergers of neutron stars, glitch phenomena in pulsars, cosmic microwave background and experimental data from hadronic colliders do not rule out, but they even support the hypothesis that the energy-density in our universe most likely is upper-limited by $\rho^{uni}_{max},$ which is predicted to lie between $2$ to $3$ the nuclear density $\rho_0.$ Quantum fluids in the cores of massive NSs with $\rho \approx \rho^{uni}_{max}$ reach the maximum compressibility state, where they become insensitive to further compression by the embedding spacetime and undergo a phase transition into the purely incompressible gluon-quark superfluid state. A direct correspondence between the positive energy stored in the embedding spacetime and the degree of compressibility and superfluidity of the trapped matter is proposed. In this paper relevant observation signatures that support the maximum density hypothesis are reviewed, a possible origin of $\rho^{uni}_{max}$ is proposed and finally the consequences of this scenario on the spacetime's topology of the universe as well as on the mechanisms underlying the growth rate and power of the high redshift QSOs are discussed.

High-redshift Extreme Variability Quasars from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Multiepoch Spectroscopy

Abstract We perform a systematic search for high-redshift ( 1.5) extreme variability quasars (EVQs) using repeat spectra from the Sixteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which provides a baseline spanning up to ∼18 yr in the observed frame. We compile a sample of 348 EVQs with a maximum continuum variability at rest frame 1450 Å of more than 100% (i.e., δV ≡ (Max − Min)/Mean > 1). The EVQs show a range of emission-line variability, including 23 where at least one line in our redshift range disappears below detectability, which can then be seen as analogous to low-redshift changing-look quasars (CLQs). Importantly, spurious CLQs caused by problematic SDSS spectral flux calibration, e.g., fiber-drop issue, have been rejected. The similar properties (e.g., continuum/line, difference-composite spectra and Eddington ratio) of normal EVQs and CLQs imply that they are basically the same physical population with analogous intrinsic variability mechanisms, as a tail of a continuous distribution of normal quasar properties. In addition, we find no reliable evidence (≲1σ) to support that CLQs are a subset of EVQs with less efficient accretion. Finally, we also confirm the antibreathing of C iv (i.e., the line width increases as luminosity increases) in EVQs and find that in addition to the ∼0.4 dex systematic uncertainty in single-epoch C iv virial black hole mass estimates, an extra scatter of ∼0.3 dex will be introduced by extreme variability.

Biconical-dominated Accretion Flow onto Seed Black Holes in a Hyperaccretion Regime

Abstract Hyperaccretion occurs when the gas inflow rate onto a black hole (BH) is so high that the radiative feedback cannot reverse the accretion flow. This extreme process is a promising mechanism for the rapid growth of seed BHs in the early universe, which can explain high-redshift quasars powered by billion solar mass BHs. In theoretical models, spherical symmetry is commonly adopted for hyperaccretion flows; however, the sustainability of such structures on timescales corresponding to the BH growth has not been addressed yet. Here we show that stochastic interactions between the ionizing radiation from the BH and nonuniform accretion flow can lead to the formation of a rotating gas disk around the BH. Once the disk forms, the supply of gas to the BH preferentially occurs via biconical-dominated accretion flow perpendicular to the disk, avoiding the centrifugal barrier of the disk. Biconical dominated accretion flows from opposite directions collide in the vicinity of the BH supplying high-density, low angular momentum gas to the BH, whereas most of the gas with nonnegligible angular momentum is deflected to the rotationally supported outflowing decretion disk. The disk becomes reinforced progressively as more mass from the biconical flow transfers to the disk and some of the outflowing gas from the disk is redirected to the biconical accretion funnels through a meridional structure. This axisymmetric hydrodynamic structure of a biconical-dominated accretion flow and decretion disk continues to provide uninterrupted flow of high-density gas to the BH.

Two Candidate High-redshift X-Ray Jets without Coincident Radio Jets

Abstract We report the detection of extended X-ray emission from two high-redshift radio quasars. These quasars, J1405+0415 at z = 3.208 and J1610+1811 at z = 3.118, were observed in a Chandra snapshot survey selected from a complete sample of the radio-brightest quasars in the overlap area of the VLA-FIRST radio survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The extended X-ray emission is located along the line connecting the core to a radio knot or hotspot, favoring the interpretation of X-ray jets. The inferred rest-frame jet X-ray luminosities from 2 to 30 keV would be of order 1045 erg s−1 if emitted isotropically and without relativistic beaming. In the scenario of inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), X-ray jets without a coincident radio counterpart may be common, and should be readily detectable to redshifts even beyond 3.2 due to the (1+z)4 increase of the CMB energy density compensating for the (1+z)−4 cosmological diminution of surface brightness. If these can be X-ray confirmed, they would be the second and third examples of quasar X-ray jets without detection of underlying continuous radio jets.

The First Gamma-Ray Emitting BL Lacertae Object at the Cosmic Dawn

Abstract One of the major challenges in studying the cosmic evolution of relativistic jets is the identification of the high-redshift (z > 3) BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), a class of jetted active galactic nuclei characterized by their quasi-featureless optical spectra. Here we report the identification of the first γ-ray emitting BL Lac, 4FGL J1219.0+3653 (J1219), beyond z = 3, i.e., within the first two billion years of the age of the universe. The optical and near-infrared spectra of J1219 taken from 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias exhibit no emission lines down to an equivalent width of ∼3.5 Å supporting its BL Lac nature. The detection of a strong Lyα break at ∼5570 Å, on the other hand, confirms that J2119 is indeed a high-redshift (z ∼ 3.59) quasar. Based on the prediction of a recent BL Lac evolution model, J1219 is one of the only two such objects expected to be present within the comoving volume at z = 3.5. Future identifications of more z > 3 γ-ray emitting BL Lac sources, therefore, will be crucial to verify the theories of their cosmic evolution.

Quasars as standard candles

We present a new catalogue of ∼2400 optically selected quasars with spectroscopic redshifts and X-ray observations from either Chandra or XMM–Newton. The sample can be used to investigate the non-linear relation between the ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray luminosity of quasars as well as to build a Hubble diagram up to a redshift of z ∼ 7.5. We selected sources that are neither reddened by dust in the optical and UV nor obscured by gas in the X-rays, and whose X-ray fluxes are free from flux-limit-related biases. After checking for any possible systematics, we confirm, in agreement with our previous works, that the X-ray to UV relation provides distance estimates matching those from supernovae up to z ∼ 1.5, and its slope shows no redshift evolution up to z ∼ 5. We provide a full description of the methodology for testing cosmological models, further supporting a trend whereby the Hubble diagram of quasars is well reproduced by the standard flat cold dark matter model up to z ∼ 1.5–2, but strong deviations emerge at higher redshifts. Since we have minimised all non-negligible systematic effects and proven the stability of the LX − LUV relation at high redshifts, we conclude that an evolution of the expansion rate of the Universe should be considered as a possible explanation for the observed deviation, rather than some systematic (redshift-dependent) effect associated with high-redshift quasars.

The first high-redshift changing-look quasars

ABSTRACT We report on three redshift z > 2 quasars with dramatic changes in their C iv emission lines, the first sample of changing-look quasars (CLQs) at high redshift. This is also the first time the changing-look behaviour has been seen in a high-ionization emission line. SDSS J1205+3422, J1638+2827, and J2228 + 2201 show interesting behaviour in their observed optical light curves, and subsequent spectroscopy shows significant changes in the C iv broad emission line, with both line collapse and emergence being displayed on rest-frame time-scales of ∼240–1640 d. These are rapid changes, especially when considering virial black hole mass estimates of MBH > 109M⊙ for all three quasars. Continuum and emission line measurements from the three quasars show changes in the continuum-equivalent width plane with the CLQs seen to be on the edge of the full population distribution, and showing indications of an intrinsic Baldwin effect. We put these observations in context with recent state-change models, and note that even in their observed low-state, the C iv CLQs are generally above ∼5 per cent in Eddington luminosity.

A Cosmography Approach to Dark Energy Cosmologies: New Constraints Using the Hubble Diagrams of Supernovae, Quasars, and Gamma-Ray Bursts

Abstract In the context of a cosmography approach to using the data of the Hubble diagram for supernovae, quasars, and gamma-ray bursts, we study dark energy (DE) parameterizations and the concordance cold dark matter (ΛCDM) universe. Using different combinations of data samples including (i) supernovae (Pantheon), (ii) Pantheon + quasars. and (iii) Pantheon + quasars + gamma-ray bursts, and applying the minimization of χ 2 function of the distance modulus of data samples in the context of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we obtain constrained values of cosmographic parameters in a model-independent cosmography scenario. We then investigate our analysis, for different concordance ΛCDM cosmology, wCDM, Chevallier–Polarski–Linder, and Pade parameterizations. Comparing the numerical values of the cosmographic parameters obtained for DE scenarios with those of the model-independent method, we show that the concordance ΛCDM model has serious issues when we involve quasar and gamma-ray burst data in our analysis. While high-redshift quasars and gamma-ray bursts can falsify the concordance model, our results using a cosmography approach indicate that the other DE parameterizations are still consistent with these observations.

Eleanor Margaret Burbidge

Eleanor Margaret Burbidge

SCUBA2 High Redshift Bright Quasar Survey: Far-infrared Properties and Weak-line Features

Abstract We present a submillimeter continuum survey (“SCUBA2 High rEdshift bRight quasaR surveY,” hereafter SHERRY) of 54 high-redshift quasars at 5.6 < z < 6.9 with quasar bolometric luminosities in the range of (0.2–5) × 1014 L ⊙, using the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array-2 (SCUBA2) on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. About 30% (16/54) of the sources are detected with a typical 850 μm rms sensitivity of 1.2 mJy beam−1 (S ν,850 μm = 4–5 mJy, at >3.5σ). The new SHERRY detections indicate far-infrared (FIR) luminosities of 3.5 × 1012 to 1.4 × 1013 L ⊙, implying extreme star formation rates of 90–1060 M ⊙ yr−1 in the quasar host galaxies. Compared with z = 2–5 samples, the FIR-luminous quasars (L FIR > 1013 L ⊙) are rarer at z ∼ 6. The optical/near-infrared spectra of these objects show that 11% (6/54) of the sources have weak Lyα emission-line features, which may relate to different subphases of the central active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our SCUBA2 survey confirms the trend reported in the literature that quasars with submillimeter detections tend to have weaker ultraviolet (UV) emission lines compared to quasars with nondetections. The connection between weak UV quasar line emission and bright dust continuum emission powered by massive star formation may suggest an early phase of AGN–galaxy evolution, in which the broad-line region is starting to develop slowly or is shielded from the central ionization source, and has unusual properties such as weak-line features or bright FIR emission.

Very high redshift quasars and the rapid emergence of super-massive black holes

Abstract The observation of quasars at very high redshift such as Pōniuā’ena is a challenge for models of super-massive black hole (SMBH) formation. This work presents a study of SMBH formation via known physical processes in star-burst clusters formed at the onset of the formation of their hosting galaxy. While at the early stages hyper-massive star-burst clusters reach the luminosities of quasars, once their massive stars die, the ensuing gas accretion from the still forming host galaxy compresses its stellar black hole (BH) component to a compact state overcoming heating from the BH–BH binaries such that the cluster collapses, forming a massive SMBH-seed within about a hundred Myr. Within this scenario the SMBH–spheroid correlation emerges near-to-exactly. The highest-redshift quasars may thus be hyper-massive star-burst clusters or young ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs), being the precursors of the SMBHs that form therein within about 200 Myr of the first stars. For spheroid masses ≲ 109.6 M⊙ a SMBH cannot form and instead only the accumulated nuclear cluster remains. The number evolution of the quasar phases with redshift is calculated and the possible problem of missing quasars at very high redshift is raised. SMBH-bearing UCDs and the formation of spheroids are discussed critically in view of the high redshift observations. A possible tension is found between the high star-formation rates (SFRs) implied by downsizing and the observed SFRs, which may be alleviated within the IGIMF theory and if the downsizing times are somewhat longer.