Quasars Research Articles

ELEPHANT: ExtragaLactic alErt Pipeline for Hostless AstroNomical Transients

Context. Transient astronomical events that exhibit no discernible association with a host galaxy are commonly referred to as hostless. These rare phenomena can offer unique insights into the properties and evolution of stars and galaxies. However, the sheer number of transients captured by contemporary high-cadence astronomical surveys renders the manual identification of all potential hostless transients impractical. Therefore, creating a systematic identification tool is crucial for studying these elusive events. Aims. We present the ExtragaLactic alErt Pipeline for Hostless AstroNomical Transients (ELEPHANT), a framework for filtering hostless transients in astronomical data streams. It was designed to process alerts from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) presented in the Fink broker; however, its underlying concept can be applied to other data sources. Methods. We used Fink to access all the ZTF alerts produced between January 2022 and December 2023, selecting alerts associated with extragalactic transients reported in SIMBAD or TNS, as well as those classified as supernovae (SNe) or kilonovae (KNe) by the machine learning (ML) classifiers within the broker. We then processed the associated stamps using a sequence of image analysis techniques to retrieve hostless candidates. Results. We find that ≲2% of all analyzed transients are potentially hostless. Among them, only ~10% have a spectroscopic class reported on TNS, with type Ia SNe being the most common class, followed by superluminous SNe. In particular, among the host-less candidates retrieved by our pipeline, there is SN 2018ibb, which has been proposed to be a pair instability SN candidate, and SN 2022ann, one of only five known SNe Icn. When no class is reported on TNS, the dominant classes are quasi-stellar object (QSO) and SN candidates, with the former obtained from SIMBAD and the latter inferred using the Fink ML classifier. Conclusions. ELEPHANT represents an effective strategy to filter extragalactic events within large and complex astronomical alert streams. There are many applications for which this pipeline will be useful, ranging from transient selection for follow-up to studies of transient environments. The results presented here demonstrate the feasibility of developing specially crafted pipelines that enable a variety of scientific studies based on large-scale surveys.

The rate of extreme coronal line emitting galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and their relation to tidal disruption events

ABSTRACT High-ionization iron coronal lines (CLs) are a rare phenomenon observed in galaxy and quasi-stellar object spectra that are thought to be created by high-energy emission from active galactic nuclei and certain types of transients. In cases known as extreme coronal line emitting galaxies (ECLEs), these CLs are strong and fade away on a time-scale of years. The most likely progenitors of these variable CLs are tidal disruption events (TDEs), which produce sufficient high-energy emission to create and sustain the CLs over these time-scales. To test the possible connection between ECLEs and TDEs, we present the most complete variable ECLE rate calculation to date and compare the results to TDE rates from the literature. To achieve this, we search for ECLEs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We detect sufficiently strong CLs in 16 galaxies, more than doubling the number previously found in SDSS. Using follow-up spectra from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mid-infrared observations, and Liverpool Telescope optical photometry, we find that none of the nine new ECLEs evolve in a manner consistent with that of the five previously discovered variable ECLEs. Using this sample of five variable ECLEs, we calculate the galaxy-normalized rate of variable ECLEs in SDSS to be $R_\mathrm{G}=3.6~^{+2.6}_{-1.8}~(\mathrm{statistical})~^{+5.1}_{-0.0}~(\mathrm{systematic})\times 10^{-6}~\mathrm{galaxy}^{-1}~\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$. The mass-normalized rate is $R_\mathrm{M}=3.1~^{+2.3}_{-1.5}~(\mathrm{statistical})~^{+4.4}_{-0.0}~(\mathrm{systematic})\times 10^{-17}~\mathrm{M_\odot ^{-1}}~\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$ and the volumetric rate is $R_\mathrm{V}=7~^{+20}_{-5}~(\mathrm{statistical})~^{+10}_{-0.0}~(\mathrm{systematic})\times 10^{-9}~\mathrm{Mpc}^{-3}~\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$. Our rates are one to two orders of magnitude lower than TDE rates from the literature, which suggests that only 10–40 per cent of all TDEs produce variable ECLEs. Additional uncertainties in the rates arising from the structure of the interstellar medium have yet to be included.

J-PLUS: Bayesian object classification with a strum of BANNJOS

With its 12 optical filters, the Javalambre-Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) provides an unprecedented multicolor view of the local Universe. The third data release (DR3) covers 3,192 deg$^2$ and contains 47.4 million objects. However, the classification algorithms currently implemented in the J-PLUS pipeline are deterministic and based solely on the morphology of the sources. Our goal is to classify the sources identified in the J-PLUS DR3 images as stars, quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), or galaxies. For this task, we present a machine learning pipeline that utilizes Bayesian neural networks to provide the full probability distribution function (PDF) of the classification. has been trained on photometric, astrometric, and morphological data from J-PLUS DR3 DR3, and using over 1.2 million objects with spectroscopic classification from DR18 DR9, the Early Data Release, and DR3. Results were validated on a test set of about $1.4 10^5$ objects and cross-checked against theoretical model predictions. outperforms all previous classifiers in terms of accuracy, precision, and completeness across the entire magnitude range. It delivers over $95<!PCT!>$ accuracy for objects brighter than $r = 21.5$ mag and $ 90<!PCT!>$ accuracy for those up to $r = 22$ mag, where J-PLUS completeness is $ 25<!PCT!>$. is also the first object classifier to provide the full PDF of the classification, enabling precise object selection for high purity or completeness, and for identifying objects with complex features, such as active galactic nuclei with resolved host galaxies. effectively classified J-PLUS sources into around 20 million galaxies, one million QSOs, and 26 million stars, with full PDFs for each, which allow for later refinement of the sample. The upcoming J-PAS survey, with its 56 color bands, will further enhance 's ability to detail the nature of each source.

Characterising the contribution of dust-obscured star formation at ≳ 5 using 18 serendipitously identified [C ii] emitters

ABSTRACT We present a new method to determine the star formation rate density (SFRD) of the Universe at $z \gtrsim 5$ that includes the contribution of dust-obscured star formation. For this purpose, we use a [C ii] (158 $\mu$m) selected sample of galaxies serendipitously identified in the fields of known $z\gtrsim 4.5$ objects to characterise the fraction of obscured star formation rate (SFR). The advantage of a [C ii] selection is that our sample is SFR-selected, in contrast to an ultraviolet (UV)-selection that would be biased towards unobscured star formation. We obtain a sample of 23 [C ii] emitters near star-forming (SF) galaxies and quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) – three of which we identify for the first time – using previous literature and archival Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array data. 18 of these serendipitously identified galaxies have sufficiently deep rest-UV data and are used to characterise the obscured fraction of the star formation in galaxies with SFRs $\gtrsim 30\ \text{M}_{\odot } \ \text{yr}^{-1}$. We find that [C ii] emitters identified around SF galaxies have $\approx$63 per cent of their SFR obscured, while [C ii] emitters around QSOs have $\approx$93 per cent of their SFR obscured. By forward modelling existing wide-area UV luminosity function (LF) determinations, we derive the intrinsic UV LF using our characterisation of the obscured SFR. Integrating the intrinsic LF to $M_{\mathrm{ UV}}$ = $-$20, we find that the obscured SFRD contributes to $\gt 3~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $\gt 10~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the total SFRD at $z \sim 5$ and $z \sim 6$ based on our sample of companions galaxies near SF galaxies and QSOs, respectively. Our results suggest that dust obscuration is not negligible at $z\gtrsim 5$, further underlining the importance of far-infrared observations of the $z\gtrsim 5$ Universe.

Supervised star, galaxy, and QSO classification with sharpened dimensionality reduction

We explored the use of broadband colors to classify stars, galaxies, and quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Specifically, we applied sharpened dimensionality reduction (SDR)-aided classification to this problem, with the aim of enhancing cluster separation in the projections of high-dimensional data clusters to allow for better classification performance and more informative projections. The main objective of this work was to apply SDR to large sets of broadband colors derived from the CPz catalog to obtain projections with clusters of star, galaxy, and QSO data that exhibit a high degree of separation. The SDR method achieves this by combining density-based clustering with conventional dimensionality-reduction techniques. To make SDR scalable and have the ability to project samples using the earlier-computed projection, we used a deep neural network trained to reproduce the SDR projections. Subsequently classification was done by applying a $k$-nearest neighbors ($k$-NN) classifier to the sharpened projections. Based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the embeddings produced by SDR, we find that SDR consistently produces accurate projections with a high degree of cluster separation. A number of projection performance metrics are used to evaluate this separation, including the trustworthiness, continuity, Shepard goodness, and distribution consistency metrics. Using the $k$-NN classifier and consolidating the results of various data sets, we obtain precisions of 99.7<!PCT!>, 98.9<!PCT!>, and 98.5<!PCT!> for classifying stars, galaxies, and QSOs, respectively. Furthermore, we achieve completenesses of 97.8<!PCT!>, 99.3<!PCT!>, and 86.8<!PCT!>, respectively. In addition to classification, we explore the structure of the embeddings produced by SDR by cross-matching with data from Gaia DR3, Galaxy Zoo 1, and a catalog of specific star formation rates, stellar masses, and dust luminosities. We discover that the embeddings reveal astrophysical information, which allows one to understand the structure of the high-dimensional broadband color data in greater detail. We find that SDR-aided star, galaxy, and QSO classification performs comparably to another unsupervised learning method using hierarchical density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (HDBSCAN) but offers advantages in terms of scalability and interpretability. Furthermore, it outperforms traditional color selection methods in terms of QSO classification performance. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of SDR-aided classification to provide an accurate and physically insightful classification of astronomical objects based on their broadband colors.

CloudFlex: A Flexible Parametric Model for the Small-scale Structure of the Circumgalactic Medium

We present CloudFlex, an open-source tool for predicting absorption-line signatures of cool gas in galaxy halos with small-scale structure. Motivated by analyses of ∼104 K material in hydrodynamical simulations of turbulent, multiphase media, we model cool gas structures as complexes of cloudlets sampled from a power-law distribution of mass ∝mcl−α with velocities drawn from a turbulent velocity field. The user may specify α, the lower limit of the cloudlet mass distribution ( mcl,min ), and several other parameters that set the mass, size, and velocity distribution of the complex. This permits investigation of the relation between these parameters and absorption-line observables. As a proof-of-concept, we calculate the Mg ii λ2796 absorption induced by the cloudlets in background quasi-stellar object (QSO) spectra. We demonstrate that, at fixed metallicity, the covering fraction of sight lines with equivalent widths W 2796 < 0.3 Å increases significantly with decreasing mcl,min , cloudlet number density (n cl), and complex size. We then use this framework to predict the halo-scale W 2796 distribution around ∼L * galaxies. We show that the observed incidences of W 2796 > 0.3 Å sight lines with impact parameters 10 kpc < R ⊥ < 50 kpc in projected QSO–galaxy studies are consistent with our model over much of parameter space. However, they are underpredicted by models with mcl,min≥100M⊙ and n cl ≥ 0.03 cm−3, in keeping with a picture in which the inner cool circumgalactic medium (CGM) is dominated by numerous low-mass cloudlets (m cl ≲ 100M ⊙) with a volume filling factor ≲1%. When used to model absorption-line data sets built from multi-sight line and/or spatially extended background probes, CloudFlex enables detailed constraints on the size and velocity distributions of structures comprising the photoionized CGM.

Evidence of Pop III stars’ chemical signature in neutral gas at z ∼ 6

Aims. This study explores the metal enrichment signatures attributed to the first generation of stars (Pop III) in the Universe, focusing on the E-XQR-30 sample – a collection of 42 high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) with emission redshifts ranging from 5.8 to 6.6. We aim to identify traces of Pop III metal enrichment by analyzing neutral gas in the interstellar medium of primordial galaxies and their satellite clumps, detected in absorption. Methods. To chase the chemical signature of Pop III stars, we studied metal absorption systems in the E-XQR-30 sample, selected through the detection of the neutral oxygen absorption line at 1302 Å. The O I line is a reliable tracer of neutral hydrogen and allowed us to overcome the challenges posed by the Lyman-α forest’s increasing saturation at redshifts above ∼5 to identify damped Lyman-α systems (DLAs). We detected and analyzed 29 O I systems at z ≥ 5.4, differentiating between proximate DLAs (PDLAs) and intervening DLAs. Voigt function fits were applied to obtain ionic column densities, and relative chemical abundances were determined for 28 systems. These were then compared with the predictions of theoretical models. Results. Our findings expand the study of O I systems at z ≥ 5.4 fourfold. No systematic differences were observed in the average chemical abundances between PDLAs and intervening DLAs. The chemical abundances in our sample align with literature systems at z &gt; 4.5, suggesting a similar enrichment pattern for this class of absorption systems. A comparison between these DLA-analogs at 4.5 &lt; z &lt; 6.5 with a sample of very metal-poor DLAs at 2 &lt; z &lt; 4.5 shows in general similar average values for the relative abundances, with the exception of [C/O], [Si/Fe] and [Si/O] which are significantly larger for the high-z sample. Furthermore, the dispersion of the measurements significantly increases in the high-redshift bin. This increase is predicted by the theoretical models and indicates a potential retention of Pop III signatures in the probed gas. Conclusions. This work represents a significant advancement in the study of the chemical properties of highly neutral gas at z ≥ 5.4, shedding light on its potential association with the metal enrichment from Pop III stars. Future advancements in observational capabilities, specifically high-resolution spectrographs, are crucial for refining measurements and addressing current limitations in the study of these distant absorption systems.

Comprehensive view of a z ∼ 6.5 radio-loud quasi-stellar object: From the radio to the optical/NIR to the X-ray band

We present a multi-wavelength analysis, from the radio to the X-ray band, of the redshift z = 6.44 VIK J2318−31 radio-loud quasi-stellar object, one of the most distant currently known of this class. The work is based on newly obtained observations (uGMRT, ATCA, and Chandra) as well as dedicated archival observations that have not yet been published (GNIRS and X-shooter). Based on the observed X-ray and radio emission, its relativistic jets are likely young and misaligned from our line of sight. Moreover, we can confirm, with simultaneous observations, the presence of a turnover in the radio spectrum at νpeak ∼ 650 MHz that is unlikely to be associated with self-synchrotron absorption. From the near-infrared spectrum we derived the mass of the central black hole, $ M_{\mathrm{BH}}=8.1^{+6.8}_{-5.6} \times 10^8\,{M_{\odot}} $, and the Eddington ratio, $ \lambda_{\mathrm{EDD}} = 0.8^{+0.8}_{-0.6} $, using broad emission lines as well as an accretion disc model fit to the continuum emission. Given the high accretion rate, the presence of a ∼8 × 108 M⊙ black hole at z = 6.44 can be explained by a seed black hole (∼104 M⊙) that formed at z ∼ 25, assuming a radiative efficiency ηd ∼ 0.1. However, by assuming ηd ∼ 0.3, as expected for jetted systems, the mass observed would challenge current theoretical models of black hole formation.

New quasars behind the Magellanic Clouds

Context. Quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) are a basis for an absolute reference system for astrometric studies. A system like this at the far side of nearby galaxies is required to facilitate measuring of the proper motions of these galaxies. However, the foreground contamination from the galaxies themselves is a problem for the QSO identification. Aims. We search for new QSOs behind the two Magellanic Clouds, the Magellanic Bridge, and the Magellanic Stream. Methods. We identify QSO candidates with a combination of near–infrared colors and variability criteria from the public ESO Visual and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) Magellanic Clouds (VMC) survey. We confirm their nature from broad emission lines with low-resolution optical spectroscopy. Results. We confirmed the QSO nature of 136 objects. They are distributed as follows: 12 behind the Large Magellanic Cloud, 37 behind the Small Magellanic Cloud, 63 behind the Bridge, and 24 behind the Stream. The QSOs span a redshift range from z~0.1 to z~2.9. A comparison of our quasar selection with the Quaia quasar catalog, based on Gaia low-resolution spectra, yields a selection and confirmation success rate of 6–19%, depending on whether the quality of the photometry, the magnitude ranges, and the colors are considered. Our candidate list is rather incomplete, but the objects in it are likely to be confirmed as quasars with a probability of ~90%. Finally, we report a list of 3609 objects in the entire VMC survey that match our color and variability selection criteria; only 1249 of them have Gaia counterparts. Conclusions. Our combined infrared color and variability criteria for the QSO selection prove to be efficient: ~90% of the observed candidates are bona fide QSOs and allow us to generate a list of new high-probability quasar candidates.

The DESI one-per cent survey: exploring the halo occupation distribution of luminous red galaxies and quasi-stellar objects with AbacusSummit

ABSTRACT We present the first comprehensive halo occupation distribution (HOD) analysis of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) One-Percent Survey luminous red galaxy (LRG) and Quasi Stellar Object (QSO) samples. We constrain the HOD of each sample and test possible HOD extensions by fitting the redshift-space galaxy 2-point correlation functions in 0.15 &amp;lt; r &amp;lt; 32 h−1 Mpc in a set of fiducial redshift bins. We use AbacusSummit cubic boxes at Planck 2018 cosmology as model templates and forward model galaxy clustering with the AbacusHOD package. We achieve good fits with a standard HOD model with velocity bias, and we find no evidence for galaxy assembly bias or satellite profile modulation at the current level of statistical uncertainty. For LRGs in 0.4 &amp;lt; z &amp;lt; 0.6, we infer a satellite fraction of $f_\mathrm{sat} = 11\pm 1~{y{\ \mathrm{per\,cent}}}$, a mean halo mass of $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot =13.40^{+0.02}_{-0.02}$, and a linear bias of $b_\mathrm{lin} = 1.93_{-0.04}^{+0.06}$. For LRGs in 0.6 &amp;lt; z &amp;lt; 0.8, we find $f_\mathrm{sat}=14\pm 1~{{\ \mathrm{per\,cent}}}$, $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot =13.24^{+0.02}_{-0.02}$, and $b_\mathrm{lin}=2.08_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$. For QSOs, we infer $f_\mathrm{sat}=3^{+8}_{-2}\mathrm{per\,cent}$, $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot = 12.65^{+0.09}_{-0.04}$, and $b_\mathrm{lin} = 2.63_{-0.26}^{+0.37}$ in redshift range 0.8 &amp;lt; z &amp;lt; 2.1. Using these fits, we generate a large suite of high fidelity galaxy mocks, forming the basis of systematic tests for DESI Y1 cosmological analyses. We also study the redshift-evolution of the DESI LRG sample from z = 0.4 up to z = 1.1, revealling significant and interesting trends in mean halo mass, linear bias, and satellite fraction.

Obscuration in high-redshift jetted quasi-stellar objects

Context. Obscuration in high-redshift quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) has a profound impact on our understanding of the evolution of supermassive black holes across cosmic time. An accurate quantification of its relevance is therefore mandatory. Aims. We present a study aimed at evaluating the importance of obscuration in high-redshift jetted QSOs, that is, active nuclei characterised by the presence of powerful relativistic jets. Methods. We compared the observed number of radio-detected QSOs at different radio flux density limits with the value predicted by the beaming model on the basis of the number of oriented sources (blazars). Any significant deficit between observations and predictions of radio-detected QSOs can be caused by the presence of obscuration along large angles from the jet direction. We applied this approach to two sizeable samples characterised by the same optical limit (mag = 21) but with significantly different radio density limits (30 mJy and 1 mJy, respectively) and containing a total of 87 independent radio-loud 4 ≤ z ≤ 6.8 QSOs, 31 of which are classified as blazars. Results. We found generally good agreement between the numbers predicted by the model and those actually observed, with only a marginal discrepancy at ∼0.5 mJy that could be caused by the sample’s lack of completeness. We concluded that we have no evidence of obscuration within angles 10–20° from the relativistic jet direction. We also discuss how the ongoing deep wide-angle radio surveys will be instrumental to testing the presence of obscuration at much larger angles, up to 30–35°. Finally, we suggest that, depending on the actual fraction of obscured QSOs, relativistic jets could be much more common at high redshifts compared to what is usually observed in the local Universe.

Mass density profiles at kiloparsec scales using the sub-millimetre galaxies magnification bias

Context. Gravitational lensing is a powerful tool for studying the distribution of mass in the Universe. Understanding the magnification bias effect in gravitational lensing and its impact on the flux of sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs) is crucial for accurate interpretations of observational data. Aims. This study aims to investigate the magnification bias effect in the context of gravitational lensing and analyse the mass density profiles of different types of foreground lenses, including quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), galaxies, and galaxy clusters. The specific goals are to compare the lens types, assess the impact of angular resolution on the analysis, and determine the adequacy of theoretical mass density profiles in explaining the observed data. Methods. The magnification bias was estimated using the cross-correlation function between the positions of background SMGs and foreground lens samples. Stacking techniques were employed to enhance the signal at smaller angular separations, and the more precise positions from the WISE catalogue were utilised to improve positional accuracy. Four different theoretical mass density profiles were analysed to extract additional information. Results. The cross-correlation measurements revealed distinctive central excess and outer power-law profiles, with a lack of signal in the intermediate region. The lens types exhibited varying signal strengths, with QSOs producing the strongest signal and galaxy clusters showing weaker signals. The analysis of mass density profiles indicated limitations in the selected profiles’ ability to explain the observed data, highlighting the need for additional considerations. The lack of extended emission in the QSO sample suggested possible influences from close satellites along the line of sight in the other lens types. Conclusions. The study provides valuable insights into the magnification bias effect and mass density profiles in gravitational lensing. The results suggest the presence of isolated galactic halos and the importance of considering environmental factors and close satellites in future investigations. The derived masses and best-fit parameters contribute to our understanding of lensing systems and provide constraints on the nature of central galaxies. Notably, the intriguing lack of signal around 10 arcsec challenges current understanding and calls for further quantitative analysis and confirmation of the observed feature.

VLBI position variability of AGNs is inversely correlated with their photometric variability

Aims. The stability of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF), realized through geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) positions of thousands of extragalactic objects, is dependent on the individual positional stability of these objects. It has been recently shown that the prevalence of offsets between the VLBI positions of ICRF objects and their Gaia optical positions, which limit the optical-radio reference frame tie, is inversely correlated with optical photometric variability, suggesting that photometrically variable objects may be more positionally stable. In this work, we determine the relationship between VLBI position stability of ICRF objects and optical-radio position offsets as well as optical photometric variability. Methods. We created multi-epoch geodetic VLBI solutions for a sample of 520 ICRF sources that have sufficient data to determine the variability in their VLBI positions over time. We compared this position variability with the fractional photometric variability provided by the Gaia extragalactic source catalog, the Gaia-ICRF optical-radio position offsets, the uncertainty-normalized position offsets, and optical BP-RP color as well as with possible confounders such as optical magnitude, VLBI/Gaia position error, and redshift. We determined the relationship between VLBI position stability and γ-ray detection by the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), and we determined how the VLBI position and optical flux variabilities correlate with the spectral classification of our sample, considering flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), quasi-stellar objects, BL Lacs, Seyfert, and gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio sources or compact-steep-spectrum radio sources. Results. We found that VLBI astrometric variability is (i) negatively correlated with optical flux variability, (ii) positively correlated with optical-radio offsets, (iii) negatively correlated with optical color index BP-RP, and (iv) negatively correlated with γ-ray detection. We also found that the most positionally stable sources are among the FSRQ and BL Lac classes. In other words, redder, photometrically variable sources have the most stable VLBI positions, the smallest optical-radio position offsets, and the highest rate of γ-ray detection, and these sources tend to be spectrally classified as blazars. Conclusions. Our results are consistent with the most positionally stable sources being blazars, a class of object in which the jet is oriented close to the line of sight and where relativistic beaming increases photometric variability and minimizes the projected offset between the optical and radio positions. Our study should therefore orient future geodetic VLBI observing programs preferentially toward sources with high photometric variability because these sources are predicted to have better VLBI position stabilities and smaller optical-radio position offsets, improving the stability of the celestial reference frame axes.

Boost recall in quasi-stellar object selection from highly imbalanced photometric datasets

Context. The identification of bright quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) is of fundamental importance to probe the intergalactic medium and address open questions in cosmology. Several approaches have been adopted to find such sources in the currently available photometric surveys, including machine learning methods. However, the rarity of bright QSOs at high redshifts compared to other contaminating sources (such as stars and galaxies) makes the selection of reliable candidates a difficult task, especially when high completeness is required. Aims. We present a novel technique to boost recall (i.e., completeness within the considered sample) in the selection of QSOs from photometric datasets dominated by stars, galaxies, and low-z QSOs (imbalanced datasets). Methods. Our heuristic method operates by iteratively removing sources whose probability of belonging to a noninteresting class exceeds a user-defined threshold, until the remaining dataset contains mainly high-z QSOs. Any existing machine learning method can be used as the underlying classifier, provided it allows for a classification probability to be estimated. We applied the method to a dataset obtained by cross-matching PanSTARRS1 (DR2), Gaia (DR3), and WISE, and identified the high-z QSO candidates using both our method and its direct multi-label counterpart. Results. We ran several tests by randomly choosing the training and test datasets, and achieved significant improvements in recall which increased from ~50% to ~85% for QSOs with z &gt; 2.5, and from ~70% to ~90% for QSOs with z &gt; 3. Also, we identified a sample of 3098 new QSO candidates on a sample of 2.6 ×106 sources with no known classification. We obtained follow-up spectroscopy for 121 candidates, confirming 107 new QSOs with z &gt; 2.5. Finally, a comparison of our QSO candidates with those selected by an independent method based on Gaia spectroscopy shows that the two samples overlap by more than 90% and that both selection methods are potentially capable of achieving a high level of completeness.

Extremely Red Galaxies at z = 5–9 with MIRI and NIRSpec: Dusty Galaxies or Obscured Active Galactic Nuclei?

We study a new population of extremely red objects (EROs) recently discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) based on their NIRCam colors F277W − F444W > 1.5 mag. We find 37 EROs in the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS) field with F444W < 28 mag and photometric redshifts between 5 < z < 7, with median z=6.9−1.6+1.0 . Surprisingly, despite their red long-wavelength colors, these EROs have blue short-wavelength colors (F150W − F200W ∼ 0 mag) indicative of bimodal spectral energy distributions (SEDs) with a red, steep slope in the rest-frame optical, and a blue, flat slope in the rest-frame UV. Moreover, all these EROs are unresolved, point-like sources in all NIRCam bands. We analyze the SEDs of eight of them with MIRI and NIRSpec observations using stellar population models and active galactic nucleus (AGN) templates. We find that dusty galaxies or obscured AGNs provide similarly good SED fits but different stellar properties: massive and dusty, logM⋆/M⊙ ∼ 10 and A V ≳ 3 mag, or low mass and obscured, logM⋆/M⊙ ∼ 7.5 and A V ∼ 0 mag, hosting an obscured quasi-stellar object (QSO). SED modeling does not favor either scenario, but their unresolved sizes are more suggestive of AGNs. If any EROs are confirmed to have logM⋆/M⊙ ≳ 10.5, it would increase the pre-JWST number density at z > 7 by up to a factor ∼60. Similarly, if they are QSOs with luminosities in the L bol > 1045–46 erg s−1 range, their number would exceed that of bright blue QSOs by more than three orders of magnitude. Additional photometry at mid-infrared wavelengths will reveal the true nature of the red continuum emission in these EROs and will place this puzzling population in the right context of galaxy evolution.

HYPERION

We present ALMA deep observations of the [CII] 158 μm emission line and the continuum at 253 GHz and 99 GHz towards SDSS J0100+2802 at z ≃ 6.3, the most luminous quasi-stellar object (QSO) at z &gt; 6. J0100+2802 belongs to the HYPERION sample of luminous QSOs at z ∼ 6 − 7.5. The observations have a 2.2 arcsec resolution in band 3 and a 0.9 arcsec resolution in band 6, and are optimized to detect extended emission around the QSO. We detect an interacting, tidally disrupted companion both in [CII], peaking at z ∼ 6.332, and in continuum, stretching on scales up to 20 kpc from the quasar, with a knotty morphology. The higher velocity dispersion in the direction of the companion emission and the complex morphology of the tidally stretched galaxy suggest a possible ongoing or future merger. For the newly detected companion, we derive the range of the dust mass, Mdust = (0.3 − 2.6)×107 M⊙, and of the star formation rate, SFR = [35 − 344] M⊙, obtained from the modelling of its cold dust spectral energy distribution. This shows that both the QSO and its companion are gas-rich and that a major merger may be at the origin of the boosted star formation. This close interacting companion is undetected by deep JWST imaging observations, showing the effectiveness of ALMA in detecting dust-obscured sources, especially in the vicinity of optically bright quasars. We also detect a broad blueshifted component in the [CII] spectrum, which we interpret as a gaseous outflow for which we estimate a mass outflow rate in the range Ṁout = (118 − 269) M⊙ yr−1. J0100+2802 was recently found to reside in a strong overdensity, however this close companion remained undetected by both previous higher resolution ALMA observations and by JWST-NIRCAM imaging. Our results highlight the importance of deep medium-resolution ALMA observations for the study of QSOs and their environment in the Epoch of Reionisation.

An Ensemble Study of Turbulence in Extended QSO Nebulae at z ≈ 0.5–1

Turbulent motions in the circumgalactic medium play a critical role in regulating the evolution of galaxies, yet their detailed characterization remains elusive. Using two-dimensional velocity maps constructed from spatially extended [O ii] and [O iii] emission, Chen et al. measured the velocity structure functions (VSFs) of four quasar nebulae at z ≈ 0.5–1.1. One of these exhibits a spectacular Kolmogorov relation. Here, we carry out an ensemble study using an expanded sample incorporating four new nebulae from three additional quasi-stellar object (QSO) fields. The VSFs measured for all eight nebulae are best explained by subsonic turbulence revealed by the line-emitting gas, which in turn strongly suggests that the cool gas (T ∼ 104 K) is dynamically coupled to the hot ambient medium. Previous work demonstrates that the largest nebulae in our sample reside in group environments with clear signs of tidal interactions, suggesting that environmental effects are vital in seeding and enhancing the turbulence within the gaseous halos, ultimately promoting the formation of the extended nebulae. No discernible differences are observed in the VSF properties between radio-loud and radio-quiet QSO fields. We estimate the turbulent heating rate per unit volume, Q turb, in the QSO nebulae to be ∼10−26–10−22 erg cm−3 s−1 for the cool phase and ∼10−28–10−25 erg cm−3 s−1 for the hot phase. This range aligns with measurements in the intracluster medium and star-forming molecular clouds but is ∼103 times higher than the Q turb observed inside cool gas clumps on scales ≲1 kpc using absorption-line techniques. We discuss the prospect of bridging the gap between emission and absorption studies by pushing the emission-based VSF measurements to below ≈10 kpc.

A comparison of compact, presumably young with extended, evolved radio active galactic nuclei

Context. The triggering and evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and the interaction of the AGN with its host galaxy is an important topic in extragalactic astrophysics. Radio sources with peaked spectra (peaked spectrum sources, PSS) and compact symmetric objects (CSO) are powerful, compact, and presumably young AGNs and therefore particularly suitable to study aspects of the AGN-host connection. Aims. We use a statistical approach to investigate properties of a PSS-CSO sample that are related to host galaxies and could potentially shed light on the link between host galaxies and AGNs. The main goal is to compare the PSS-CSO sample with a matching comparison sample of extended sources (ECS) to see if the two have significant differences. Methods. We analysed composite spectra, diagnostic line diagrams, multi-band spectral energy distributions (MBSEDs), star formation (SF) indicators, morphologies, and cluster environments for a sample of 121 PSSs and CSOs for which spectra are available from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The statistical results were compared with those of the ECS sample, where we generally considered the two subsamples of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) and radio galaxies separately. The analysis is based on a large set of archival data in the spectral range from the ultraviolet to mid-infrared. Results. We find significant differences between the PSS-CSO and the ECS sample. In particular, we find that the ECS sample has a higher proportion of passive galaxies with a lower star formation activity. This applies to both sub-samples (QSOs or radio galaxies) as well as to the entire sample. The star formation rates of the PSS-CSO host galaxies with available data are typically in the range ∼0 to 5 ℳ⊙ yr−1, and the stellar masses are in the range 3 × 1011 to 1012 ℳ⊙. Secondly, in agreement with previous results, we find a remarkably high proportion of PSS-CSO host galaxies with merger signatures. The merger fraction of the PSS-CSO sample is 0.61 ± 0.07, which is significantly higher than that of the comparison sample (0.15 ± 0.06). We suggest that this difference can be explained by assuming that the majority of the PSSs and CSOs cannot evolve to extended radio sources and are therefore not represented in our comparison sample.

Summary of a Life in Observational Ultraviolet/Optical Astronomy

I reminisce on my early life in Section 1; on my education in Sections 2 and 3; on the years at Princeton as a research astronomer in Section 4; on the years on the faculty at Chicago in Section 5; on research on Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) in Section 6; on construction of the 3.5 m telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO) in Section 7; on work on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in Section 8; on work in public education in Chicago in Section 9; and on my travels in Section 10. My main science research is of an observational nature, concerning Galactic and intergalactic interstellar gas. Highlights for me included my work on the orbiting telescope Copernicus, including the discovery of interstellar deuterium; early observations of absorption associated with five-times ionized oxygen; and discoveries concerning the phases of gas in the local interstellar medium, based on previously unobservable interstellar UV spectral lines. With other instruments and collaborations, I extended interstellar UV studies to the intergalactic cool gas using quasi-stellar object QSO absorption lines redshifted to the optical part of the spectrum; provided a better definition of the emission and morphological character of the source of absorption lines in QSO spectra; and pursued the identification of the unidentified DIBs. For several of these topics, extensive collaborations with many scientists were essential over many years. The conclusions developed slowly, as I moved from being a graduate student at Chicago, to a research scientist position at Princeton and then to a faculty position at Chicago. At each stage of life, I was exposed to new technologies adaptable to my science and to subsequent projects. From high school days, I encountered several management opportunities which were formative. I have been extremely fortunate both in scientific mentors I had and in experimental opportunities I encountered.

The miniJPAS and J-NEP surveys: Identification and characterization of the Lyα emitter population and the Lyα luminosity function at redshift 2.05 &lt; z &lt; 3.75

We present the Lyman-α (Lyα) luminosity function (LF) at 2.05 &lt; z &lt; 3.75, estimated from a sample of 67 Lyα-emitter (LAE) candidates in the Javalambre Physics of the Accelerating Universe Astronomical Survey (J-PAS) pathfinder surveys: miniJPAS and J-NEP. These two surveys cover a total effective area of ∼1.14 deg2 with 54 narrow band (NB) filters (FWHM ∼ 145 Å) across the optical range, with typical limiting magnitudes of ∼23. This set of NBs allowed us to probe Lyα emission in a wide and continuous range of redshifts. We developed a method for detecting Lyα emission for the estimation of the Lyα LF using the whole J-PAS filter set. We tested this method by applying it to the miniJPAS and J-NEP data. In order to compute the corrections needed to estimate the Lyα LF and to test the performance of the candidate selection method, we built mock catalogs. These include representative populations of LAEs at 1.9 &lt; z &lt; 4.5 as well as their expected contaminants, namely low-z galaxies and z &lt; 2 quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). We show that our method is able to provide the Lyα LF at the intermediate-bright range of luminosity (43.5 ≲ log10(LLyα/erg s−1) ≲ 44.5) combining both miniJPAS and J-NEP. The photometric information provided by these surveys suggests that our samples are dominated by bright, Lyα-emitting active galactic nuclei (i.e., AGNs). At log10(LLyα/erg s−1) &lt; 44.5, we fit our Lyα LF to a power law with a slope of A = 0.70 ± 0.25. We also fit a Schechter function to our data, obtaining the following: log10(Φ∗/Mpc−3) = −6.30−0.70+0.48, log10(L∗/erg s−1) = 44.85−0.32+0.50, and α = −1.65−0.27+0.29. Overall, our results confirm the presence of an AGN component at the bright end of the Lyα LF. In particular, we find no significant contribution of star-forming LAEs to the Lyα LF at log10(LLyα/erg s−1) &gt; 43.5. This work serves as a proof of concept for the results that can be obtained with the upcoming data releases of the J-PAS survey.