IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nature/v627y2024i8003d10.1038_s41586-024-07053-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A dynamical measure of the black hole mass in a quasar 11 billion years ago

Author

Listed:
  • R. Abuter

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • F. Allouche

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • A. Amorim

    (Universidade de Lisboa
    Universidade de Lisboa)

  • C. Bailet

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • A. Berdeu

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • J.-P. Berger

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • P. Berio

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • A. Bigioli

    (KU Leuven)

  • O. Boebion

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • M.-L. Bolzer

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
    Technical University Munich
    Univ. Lyon, Univ. Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon UMR5574)

  • H. Bonnet

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • G. Bourdarot

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • P. Bourget

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • W. Brandner

    (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

  • Y. Cao

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • R. Conzelmann

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • M. Comin

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • Y. Clénet

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • B. Courtney-Barrer

    (European Southern Observatory
    Australian National University)

  • R. Davies

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • D. Defrère

    (KU Leuven)

  • A. Delboulbé

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • F. Delplancke-Ströbele

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • R. Dembet

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • J. Dexter

    (University of Colorado Boulder)

  • P. T. Zeeuw

    (Leiden University)

  • A. Drescher

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • A. Eckart

    (Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
    University of Cologne)

  • C. Édouard

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • F. Eisenhauer

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • M. Fabricius

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • H. Feuchtgruber

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • G. Finger

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • N. M. Förster Schreiber

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • P. Garcia

    (Universidade de Lisboa
    Universidade do Porto)

  • R. Garcia Lopez

    (University College Dublin, Belfield)

  • F. Gao

    (Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy)

  • E. Gendron

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • R. Genzel

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
    University of California, Berkeley
    University of California, Berkeley)

  • J. P. Gil

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • S. Gillessen

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • T. Gomes

    (Universidade de Lisboa
    Universidade do Porto)

  • F. Gonté

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • C. Gouvret

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • P. Guajardo

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • S. Guieu

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • W. Hackenberg

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • N. Haddad

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • M. Hartl

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • X. Haubois

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • F. Haußmann

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • G. Heißel

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS
    European Space Agency, TEC-SF, ESTEC)

  • Th. Henning

    (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

  • S. Hippler

    (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

  • S. F. Hönig

    (University of Southampton)

  • M. Horrobin

    (University of Cologne)

  • N. Hubin

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • E. Jacqmart

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • L. Jocou

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • A. Kaufer

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • P. Kervella

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • J. Kolb

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • H. Korhonen

    (European Southern Observatory
    Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

  • S. Lacour

    (European Southern Observatory
    Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • S. Lagarde

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • O. Lai

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • V. Lapeyrère

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • R. Laugier

    (KU Leuven)

  • J.-B. Bouquin

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • J. Leftley

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • P. Léna

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • S. Lewis

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • D. Liu

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • B. Lopez

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • D. Lutz

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • Y. Magnard

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • F. Mang

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
    Technical University Munich)

  • A. Marcotto

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • D. Maurel

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • A. Mérand

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • F. Millour

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • N. More

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • H. Netzer

    (Tel Aviv University)

  • H. Nowacki

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • M. Nowak

    (University of Cambridge)

  • S. Oberti

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • T. Ott

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • L. Pallanca

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • T. Paumard

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • K. Perraut

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • G. Perrin

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • R. Petrov

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • O. Pfuhl

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • N. Pourré

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • S. Rabien

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • C. Rau

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • M. Riquelme

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • S. Robbe-Dubois

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • S. Rochat

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • M. Salman

    (KU Leuven)

  • J. Sanchez-Bermudez

    (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • D. J. D. Santos

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • S. Scheithauer

    (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

  • M. Schöller

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • J. Schubert

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • N. Schuhler

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • J. Shangguan

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • P. Shchekaturov

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • T. T. Shimizu

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • A. Sevin

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • F. Soulez

    (Univ. Lyon, Univ. Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon UMR5574)

  • A. Spang

    (Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange)

  • E. Stadler

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IPAG)

  • A. Sternberg

    (Tel Aviv University
    Flatiron Institute)

  • C. Straubmeier

    (University of Cologne)

  • E. Sturm

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • C. Sykes

    (University of Southampton)

  • L. J. Tacconi

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • K. R. W. Tristram

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • F. Vincent

    (Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS)

  • S. Fellenberg

    (Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy)

  • S. Uysal

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • F. Widmann

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • E. Wieprecht

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • E. Wiezorrek

    (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)

  • J. Woillez

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • G. Zins

    (European Southern Observatory)

Abstract

Tight relationships exist in the local Universe between the central stellar properties of galaxies and the mass of their supermassive black hole (SMBH)1–3. These suggest that galaxies and black holes co-evolve, with the main regulation mechanism being energetic feedback from accretion onto the black hole during its quasar phase4–6. A crucial question is how the relationship between black holes and galaxies evolves with time; a key epoch to examine this relationship is at the peaks of star formation and black hole growth 8–12 billion years ago (redshifts 1–3)7. Here we report a dynamical measurement of the mass of the black hole in a luminous quasar at a redshift of 2, with a look back in time of 11 billion years, by spatially resolving the broad-line region (BLR). We detect a 40-μas (0.31-pc) spatial offset between the red and blue photocentres of the Hα line that traces the velocity gradient of a rotating BLR. The flux and differential phase spectra are well reproduced by a thick, moderately inclined disk of gas clouds within the sphere of influence of a central black hole with a mass of 3.2 × 108 solar masses. Molecular gas data reveal a dynamical mass for the host galaxy of 6 × 1011 solar masses, which indicates an undermassive black hole accreting at a super-Eddington rate. This suggests a host galaxy that grew faster than the SMBH, indicating a delay between galaxy and black hole formation for some systems.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Abuter & F. Allouche & A. Amorim & C. Bailet & A. Berdeu & J.-P. Berger & P. Berio & A. Bigioli & O. Boebion & M.-L. Bolzer & H. Bonnet & G. Bourdarot & P. Bourget & W. Brandner & Y. Cao & R. Conze, 2024. "A dynamical measure of the black hole mass in a quasar 11 billion years ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 627(8003), pages 281-285, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:627:y:2024:i:8003:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07053-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07053-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07053-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41586-024-07053-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:627:y:2024:i:8003:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07053-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.