SMBHs and Hot Gas in the MQN01 Protocluster- Extreme Conditions in a High-z Overdensity

The protocluster field MQN01 at z~3.25 provides a rare window into how extreme high-redshift environments influence the evolution of galaxies and their central supermassive black holes (SMBHs). This region, which hosts the largest Lya nebula in the Borisova et al. (2016) sample, features a dense network of filaments and one of the highest galaxy overdensities known at this epoch.I will present results from an ultra-deep (~650 ks) Chandra survey of MQN01, combined with MUSE and ALMA data. We identify an exceptional overdensity of X-ray AGN (~1000), surpassing those in protoclusters like SSA22 and the Spiderweb if we consider Lx>1e45 erg/s AGNs. The AGN fraction reaches 100% for galaxies with stellar mass >10^{10.5} Msun, and the average specific accretion rate increases toward the center of the structure, highlighting the significant role of dense environments in triggering SMBH growth at early cosmic times.In the same field, we detect significant extended X-ray emission (5.3 \sigma) around the central QSO, tracing hot gas out to ~30 kpc. Spectral modeling favors thermal emission from a proto-intracluster medium (proto-ICM) with T~1e7 K and halo mass ~1e13 Msun, among the earliest such detections at z>3. Alternative explanations, such as photoionization or inverse Compton emission, are strongly disfavored by the data.Together, these results support a scenario where high-z overdensities are not only key sites for accelerated SMBH growth, but also early cradles for the formation of extended hot gaseous halos, providing new insights into the interplay between AGN, environment, and baryon cycling in the early Universe.

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2025-05-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15496139
Primary Topic
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

SMBHs and Hot Gas in the MQN01 Protocluster- Extreme Conditions in a High-z Overdensity

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
article

SMBHs and Hot Gas in the MQN01 Protocluster- Extreme Conditions in a High-z Overdensity

article en

Abstract

The protocluster field MQN01 at z~3.25 provides a rare window into how extreme high-redshift environments influence the evolution of galaxies and their central supermassive black holes (SMBHs). This region, which hosts the largest Lya nebula in the Borisova et al. (2016) sample, features a dense network of filaments and one of the highest galaxy overdensities known at this epoch.I will present results from an ultra-deep (~650 ks) Chandra survey of MQN01, combined with MUSE and ALMA data. We identify an exceptional overdensity of X-ray AGN (~1000), surpassing those in protoclusters like SSA22 and the Spiderweb if we consider Lx>1e45 erg/s AGNs. The AGN fraction reaches 100% for galaxies with stellar mass >10^{10.5} Msun, and the average specific accretion rate increases toward the center of the structure, highlighting the significant role of dense environments in triggering SMBH growth at early cosmic times.In the same field, we detect significant extended X-ray emission (5.3 \sigma) around the central QSO, tracing hot gas out to ~30 kpc. Spectral modeling favors thermal emission from a proto-intracluster medium (proto-ICM) with T~1e7 K and halo mass ~1e13 Msun, among the earliest such detections at z>3. Alternative explanations, such as photoionization or inverse Compton emission, are strongly disfavored by the data.Together, these results support a scenario where high-z overdensities are not only key sites for accelerated SMBH growth, but also early cradles for the formation of extended hot gaseous halos, providing new insights into the interplay between AGN, environment, and baryon cycling in the early Universe.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 62%
Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.