Constraints on high-J CO emission lines in z similar to 6 quasars

• We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of eight highly excited CO (J(up) > 8) lines and continuum emission in two z similar to 6 quasars: SDSS J231038.88+185519.7 (hereafter J2310), for which CO(8-7), CO(9-8), and CO(17-16) lines have been observed, and ULAS J131911.29+095951.4 (J1319), observed in the CO(14-13), CO(17-16), and CO(19-18) lines. The continuum emission of both quasars arises from a compact region (<0.9 kpc). By assuming a modified blackbody law, we estimate dust masses of log(M-dust/M-circle dot) = 8.75 +/- 0.07 and log(M-dust/M-circle dot) = 8.8 +/- 0.2 and dust temperatures of T-dust = 76 +/- 3 K and T-dust = 66(-10)(+15) K, respectively, for J2310 and J1319. Only CO(8-7) and CO(9-8) in J2310 are detected, while 3 sigma upper limits on luminosities are reported for the other lines of both quasars. The CO line luminosities and upper limits measured in J2310 and J1319 are consistent with those observed in local active galactic nuclei and starburst galaxies, and other z similar to 6 quasars, except for SDSS J1148+5251 (J1148), the only quasar at z = 6.4 with a previous CO(17-16) line detection. By computing the CO spectral line energy distributions normalized to the CO(6-5) line and far-infrared luminosities for J2310, J1319, and J1148, we conclude that different gas heating mechanisms (X-ray radiation and/or shocks) may explain the different CO luminosities observed in these z similar to 6 quasar. Future J(up) > 8 CO observations will be crucial to understand the processes responsible for molecular gas excitation in luminous high-z quasars.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

galaxies: active

galaxies: high-redshift

galaxies: ISM

quasars: individual: SDSS J231038.88+185519.7

quasars: individual: ULAS J131911.29+095951.4

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)