Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability

DES Collaboration; Hengxiao Guo; Colin J. Burke; Xin Liu; Kedar A. Phadke; Kaiwen Zhang; Yu Ching Chen; Robert A. Gruendl; Christopher Lidman; Yue Shen; Eric Morganson; Michel Aguena; Sahar Allam; Santiago Avila; Emmanuel Bertin; David Brooks; Aurelio Carnero Rosell; Daniela Carollo; Matias Carrasco Kind; Matteo Costanzi; Luiz N. da Costa; Juan De Vicente; Shantanu Desai; Peter Doel; Tim F. Eifler; Spencer Everett; Juan García-Bellido; Enrique Gaztanaga; David W. Gerdes; Daniel Gruen; Julia Gschwend; Gaston Gutierrez; Samuel R. Hinton; Devon L. Hollowood; Klaus Honscheid; David J. James; Kyler Kuehn; Marcos Lima; Marcio A. G. Maia; Felipe Menanteau; Ramon Miquel; Anais Möller; Ricardo L. C. Ogando; Antonella Palmese; Francisco Paz-Chinchón; Andrés A. Plazas; Anita K. Romer; Aaron Roodman; Eusebio Sanchez; Vic Scarpine; Michael Schubnell; Santiago Serrano; Mathew Smith; Marcelle Soares-Santos; Natalia E. Sommer; Eric Suchyta; Molly E.C. Swanson; Gregory Tarle; Brad E. Tucker; Tamas N. Varga

doi:10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability

DES Collaboration, Hengxiao Guo, Colin J. Burke, Xin Liu, Kedar A. Phadke, Kaiwen Zhang, Yu Ching Chen, Robert A. Gruendl, Christopher Lidman, Yue Shen, Eric Morganson, Michel Aguena, Sahar Allam, Santiago Avila, Emmanuel Bertin, David Brooks, Aurelio Carnero Rosell, Daniela Carollo, Matias Carrasco Kind, Matteo CostanziLuiz N. da Costa, Juan De Vicente, Shantanu Desai, Peter Doel, Tim F. Eifler, Spencer Everett, Juan García-Bellido, Enrique Gaztanaga, David W. Gerdes, Daniel Gruen, Julia Gschwend, Gaston Gutierrez, Samuel R. Hinton, Devon L. Hollowood, Klaus Honscheid, David J. James, Kyler Kuehn, Marcos Lima, Marcio A. G. Maia, Felipe Menanteau, Ramon Miquel, Anais Möller, Ricardo L. C. Ogando, Antonella Palmese, Francisco Paz-Chinchón, Andrés A. Plazas, Anita K. Romer, Aaron Roodman, Eusebio Sanchez, Vic Scarpine, Michael Schubnell, Santiago Serrano, Mathew Smith, Marcelle Soares-Santos, Natalia E. Sommer, Eric Suchyta, Molly E.C. Swanson, Gregory Tarle, Brad E. Tucker, Tamas N. Varga

Australian Astronomical Optics

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7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus (AGN), DES J0218-0430, in a redshift z = 0.823 galaxy in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Supernova field. We select DES J0218-0430 as an AGN candidate by characterizing its long-term optical variability alone based on DES optical broad-band light curves spanning over 6 yr. An archival optical spectrum from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows both broad Mg II and broad Hβ lines, confirming its nature as a broad-line AGN. Archival XMM-Newton X-ray observations suggest an intrinsic hard X-ray luminosity of L_2-12 keV ≈ 7.6 ± 0.4 × 10⁴³ erg s^-1, which exceeds those of the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies, in support of an AGN driving the optical variability. Based on the broad Hβ from SDSS spectrum, we estimate a virial black hole (BH) mass of M. ≈ 10^6.43-10^6.72M_⊙(with the error denoting the systematic uncertainty from different calibrations), consistent with the estimation from OzDES, making it the lowest mass AGN with redshift > 0.4 detected in optical. We estimate the host galaxy stellar mass to be M_* ≈10^{10.5 ± 0.3}M_⊙based on modelling the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution. DES J0218-0430 extends the M_•-M_* relation observed in luminous AGNs at z ∼ 1 to masses lower than being probed by previous work. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using optical variability to identify low-mass AGNs at higher redshift in deeper synoptic surveys with direct implications for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time at Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3636-3647
Number of pages	12
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	496
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803
Publication status	Published - Aug 2020

Keywords

black hole physics
surveys
galaxies: active
galaxies: high-redshift
galaxies: nuclei
quasars: general

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10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

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DES Collaboration, Guo, H., Burke, C. J., Liu, X., Phadke, K. A., Zhang, K., Chen, Y. C., Gruendl, R. A., Lidman, C., Shen, Y., Morganson, E., Aguena, M., Allam, S., Avila, S., Bertin, E., Brooks, D., Rosell, A. C., Carollo, D., Kind, M. C., ... Varga, T. N. (2020). Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 496(3), 3636-3647. https://doi.org/10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

@article{30726121cfd34ea5a3b27896dce6d215,

title = "Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability",

abstract = "We report the identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus (AGN), DES J0218-0430, in a redshift z = 0.823 galaxy in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Supernova field. We select DES J0218-0430 as an AGN candidate by characterizing its long-term optical variability alone based on DES optical broad-band light curves spanning over 6 yr. An archival optical spectrum from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows both broad Mg II and broad Hβ lines, confirming its nature as a broad-line AGN. Archival XMM-Newton X-ray observations suggest an intrinsic hard X-ray luminosity of L2-12 keV ≈ 7.6 ± 0.4 × 1043 erg s-1, which exceeds those of the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies, in support of an AGN driving the optical variability. Based on the broad Hβ from SDSS spectrum, we estimate a virial black hole (BH) mass of M. ≈ 106.43-106.72M⊙ (with the error denoting the systematic uncertainty from different calibrations), consistent with the estimation from OzDES, making it the lowest mass AGN with redshift > 0.4 detected in optical. We estimate the host galaxy stellar mass to be M* ≈1010.5 ± 0.3M⊙ based on modelling the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution. DES J0218-0430 extends the M•-M* relation observed in luminous AGNs at z ∼ 1 to masses lower than being probed by previous work. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using optical variability to identify low-mass AGNs at higher redshift in deeper synoptic surveys with direct implications for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time at Vera C. Rubin Observatory.",

keywords = "black hole physics, surveys, galaxies: active, galaxies: high-redshift, galaxies: nuclei, quasars: general",

author = "{DES Collaboration} and Hengxiao Guo and Burke, {Colin J.} and Xin Liu and Phadke, {Kedar A.} and Kaiwen Zhang and Chen, {Yu Ching} and Gruendl, {Robert A.} and Christopher Lidman and Yue Shen and Eric Morganson and Michel Aguena and Sahar Allam and Santiago Avila and Emmanuel Bertin and David Brooks and Rosell, {Aurelio Carnero} and Daniela Carollo and Kind, {Matias Carrasco} and Matteo Costanzi and {da Costa}, {Luiz N.} and {De Vicente}, Juan and Shantanu Desai and Peter Doel and Eifler, {Tim F.} and Spencer Everett and Juan Garc{\'i}a-Bellido and Enrique Gaztanaga and Gerdes, {David W.} and Daniel Gruen and Julia Gschwend and Gaston Gutierrez and Hinton, {Samuel R.} and Hollowood, {Devon L.} and Klaus Honscheid and James, {David J.} and Kyler Kuehn and Marcos Lima and Maia, {Marcio A. G.} and Felipe Menanteau and Ramon Miquel and Anais M{\"o}ller and Ogando, {Ricardo L. C.} and Antonella Palmese and Francisco Paz-Chinch{\'o}n and Plazas, {Andr{\'e}s A.} and Romer, {Anita K.} and Aaron Roodman and Eusebio Sanchez and Vic Scarpine and Michael Schubnell and Santiago Serrano and Mathew Smith and Marcelle Soares-Santos and Sommer, {Natalia E.} and Eric Suchyta and Swanson, {Molly E.C.} and Gregory Tarle and Tucker, {Brad E.} and Varga, {Tamas N.}",

year = "2020",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803",

language = "English",

volume = "496",

pages = "3636--3647",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "3",

}

DES Collaboration, Guo, H, Burke, CJ, Liu, X, Phadke, KA, Zhang, K, Chen, YC, Gruendl, RA, Lidman, C, Shen, Y, Morganson, E, Aguena, M, Allam, S, Avila, S, Bertin, E, Brooks, D, Rosell, AC, Carollo, D, Kind, MC, Costanzi, M, da Costa, LN, De Vicente, J, Desai, S, Doel, P, Eifler, TF, Everett, S, García-Bellido, J, Gaztanaga, E, Gerdes, DW, Gruen, D, Gschwend, J, Gutierrez, G, Hinton, SR, Hollowood, DL, Honscheid, K, James, DJ, Kuehn, K, Lima, M, Maia, MAG, Menanteau, F, Miquel, R, Möller, A, Ogando, RLC, Palmese, A, Paz-Chinchón, F, Plazas, AA, Romer, AK, Roodman, A, Sanchez, E, Scarpine, V, Schubnell, M, Serrano, S, Smith, M, Soares-Santos, M, Sommer, NE, Suchyta, E, Swanson, MEC, Tarle, G, Tucker, BE & Varga, TN 2020, 'Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 496, no. 3, pp. 3636-3647. https://doi.org/10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability

AU - DES Collaboration

AU - Guo, Hengxiao

AU - Burke, Colin J.

AU - Liu, Xin

AU - Phadke, Kedar A.

AU - Zhang, Kaiwen

AU - Chen, Yu Ching

AU - Gruendl, Robert A.

AU - Lidman, Christopher

AU - Shen, Yue

AU - Morganson, Eric

AU - Aguena, Michel

AU - Allam, Sahar

AU - Avila, Santiago

AU - Bertin, Emmanuel

AU - Brooks, David

AU - Rosell, Aurelio Carnero

AU - Carollo, Daniela

AU - Kind, Matias Carrasco

AU - Costanzi, Matteo

AU - da Costa, Luiz N.

AU - De Vicente, Juan

AU - Desai, Shantanu

AU - Doel, Peter

AU - Eifler, Tim F.

AU - Everett, Spencer

AU - García-Bellido, Juan

AU - Gaztanaga, Enrique

AU - Gerdes, David W.

AU - Gruen, Daniel

AU - Gschwend, Julia

AU - Gutierrez, Gaston

AU - Hinton, Samuel R.

AU - Hollowood, Devon L.

AU - Honscheid, Klaus

AU - James, David J.

AU - Kuehn, Kyler

AU - Lima, Marcos

AU - Maia, Marcio A. G.

AU - Menanteau, Felipe

AU - Miquel, Ramon

AU - Möller, Anais

AU - Ogando, Ricardo L. C.

AU - Palmese, Antonella

AU - Paz-Chinchón, Francisco

AU - Plazas, Andrés A.

AU - Romer, Anita K.

AU - Roodman, Aaron

AU - Sanchez, Eusebio

AU - Scarpine, Vic

AU - Schubnell, Michael

AU - Serrano, Santiago

AU - Smith, Mathew

AU - Soares-Santos, Marcelle

AU - Sommer, Natalia E.

AU - Suchyta, Eric

AU - Swanson, Molly E.C.

AU - Tarle, Gregory

AU - Tucker, Brad E.

AU - Varga, Tamas N.

PY - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - We report the identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus (AGN), DES J0218-0430, in a redshift z = 0.823 galaxy in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Supernova field. We select DES J0218-0430 as an AGN candidate by characterizing its long-term optical variability alone based on DES optical broad-band light curves spanning over 6 yr. An archival optical spectrum from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows both broad Mg II and broad Hβ lines, confirming its nature as a broad-line AGN. Archival XMM-Newton X-ray observations suggest an intrinsic hard X-ray luminosity of L2-12 keV ≈ 7.6 ± 0.4 × 1043 erg s-1, which exceeds those of the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies, in support of an AGN driving the optical variability. Based on the broad Hβ from SDSS spectrum, we estimate a virial black hole (BH) mass of M. ≈ 106.43-106.72M⊙ (with the error denoting the systematic uncertainty from different calibrations), consistent with the estimation from OzDES, making it the lowest mass AGN with redshift > 0.4 detected in optical. We estimate the host galaxy stellar mass to be M* ≈1010.5 ± 0.3M⊙ based on modelling the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution. DES J0218-0430 extends the M•-M* relation observed in luminous AGNs at z ∼ 1 to masses lower than being probed by previous work. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using optical variability to identify low-mass AGNs at higher redshift in deeper synoptic surveys with direct implications for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time at Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

AB - We report the identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus (AGN), DES J0218-0430, in a redshift z = 0.823 galaxy in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Supernova field. We select DES J0218-0430 as an AGN candidate by characterizing its long-term optical variability alone based on DES optical broad-band light curves spanning over 6 yr. An archival optical spectrum from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows both broad Mg II and broad Hβ lines, confirming its nature as a broad-line AGN. Archival XMM-Newton X-ray observations suggest an intrinsic hard X-ray luminosity of L2-12 keV ≈ 7.6 ± 0.4 × 1043 erg s-1, which exceeds those of the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies, in support of an AGN driving the optical variability. Based on the broad Hβ from SDSS spectrum, we estimate a virial black hole (BH) mass of M. ≈ 106.43-106.72M⊙ (with the error denoting the systematic uncertainty from different calibrations), consistent with the estimation from OzDES, making it the lowest mass AGN with redshift > 0.4 detected in optical. We estimate the host galaxy stellar mass to be M* ≈1010.5 ± 0.3M⊙ based on modelling the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution. DES J0218-0430 extends the M•-M* relation observed in luminous AGNs at z ∼ 1 to masses lower than being probed by previous work. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using optical variability to identify low-mass AGNs at higher redshift in deeper synoptic surveys with direct implications for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time at Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

KW - black hole physics

KW - surveys

KW - galaxies: active

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

KW - galaxies: nuclei

KW - quasars: general

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098816813&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/CE110001020

U2 - 10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

DO - 10.1093/MNRAS/STAA1803

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85098816813

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 496

SP - 3636

EP - 3647

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 3

ER -

Dark Energy Survey identification of a low-mass active galactic nucleus at redshift 0.823 from optical variability

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Keywords

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