Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years

M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; L. Baldini; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; J. Becerra Gonzalez; R. Bellazzini; E. Bissaldi; R. D. Blandford; E. D. Bloom; R. Bonino; E. Bottacini; J. Bregeon; P. Bruel; R. Buehler; S. Buson; R. A. Cameron; M. Caragiulo; P. A. Caraveo; E. Cavazzuti; C. Cecchi; C. C. Cheung; J. Chiang; G. Chiaro; S. Ciprini; J. Conrad; D. Costantin; F. Costanza; S. Cutini; F. D'Ammando; F. De Palma; R. Desiante; S. W. Digel; N. Di Lalla; M. Di Mauro; L. Di Venere; A. Domínguez; P. S. Drell; C. Favuzzi; S. J. Fegan; E. C. Ferrara; J. Finke; W. B. Focke; Y. Fukazawa; S. Funk; P. Fusco; F. Gargano; D. Gasparrini; N. Giglietto; F. Giordano; M. Giroletti; D. Green; I. A. Grenier; L. Guillemot; S. Guiriec; D. H. Hartmann; E. Hays; D. Horan; T. Jogler; G. Jóhannesson; A. S. Johnson; M. Kuss; G. La Mura; S. Larsson; L. Latronico; J. Li; F. Longo; F. Loparco; M. N. Lovellette; P. Lubrano; J. D. Magill; S. Maldera; A. Manfreda; L. Marcotulli; M. N. Mazziotta; P. F. Michelson; N. Mirabal; W. Mitthumsiri; T. Mizuno; M. E. Monzani; A. Morselli; I. V. Moskalenko; M. Negro; E. Nuss; T. Ohsugi; R. Ojha; N. Omodei; M. Orienti; E. Orlando; J. F. Ormes; V. S. Paliya; D. Paneque; J. S. Perkins; M. Persic; M. Pesce-Rollins; F. Piron; T. A. Porter; G. Principe; S. Rainò; R. Rando; B. Rani; M. Razzano; S. Razzaque; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; R. W. Romani; C. Sgrò; D. Simone; E. J. Siskind; F. Spada; G. Spandre; P. Spinelli; C. S. Stalin; L. Stawarz; D. J. Suson; M. Takahashi; K. Tanaka; J. B. Thayer; D. J. Thompson; D. F. Torres; E. Torresi; G. Tosti; E. Troja; G. Vianello; K. S. Wood

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years

M. Ackermann, M. Ajello, L. Baldini, J. Ballet, G. Barbiellini, D. Bastieri, J. Becerra Gonzalez, R. Bellazzini, E. Bissaldi, R. D. Blandford, E. D. Bloom, R. Bonino, E. Bottacini, J. Bregeon, P. Bruel, R. Buehler, S. Buson, R. A. Cameron, M. Caragiulo, P. A. CaraveoE. Cavazzuti, C. Cecchi, C. C. Cheung, J. Chiang, G. Chiaro, S. Ciprini, J. Conrad, D. Costantin, F. Costanza, S. Cutini, F. D'Ammando, F. De Palma, R. Desiante, S. W. Digel, N. Di Lalla, M. Di Mauro, L. Di Venere, A. Domínguez, P. S. Drell, C. Favuzzi, S. J. Fegan, E. C. Ferrara, J. Finke, W. B. Focke, Y. Fukazawa, S. Funk, P. Fusco, F. Gargano, D. Gasparrini, N. Giglietto, F. Giordano, M. Giroletti, D. Green, I. A. Grenier, L. Guillemot, S. Guiriec, D. H. Hartmann, E. Hays, D. Horan, T. Jogler, G. Jóhannesson, A. S. Johnson, M. Kuss, G. La Mura, S. Larsson, L. Latronico, J. Li, F. Longo, F. Loparco, M. N. Lovellette, P. Lubrano, J. D. Magill, S. Maldera, A. Manfreda, L. Marcotulli, M. N. Mazziotta, P. F. Michelson, N. Mirabal, W. Mitthumsiri, T. Mizuno, M. E. Monzani, A. Morselli, I. V. Moskalenko, M. Negro, E. Nuss, T. Ohsugi, R. Ojha, N. Omodei, M. Orienti, E. Orlando, J. F. Ormes, V. S. Paliya, D. Paneque, J. S. Perkins, M. Persic, M. Pesce-Rollins, F. Piron, T. A. Porter, G. Principe, S. Rainò, R. Rando, B. Rani, M. Razzano, S. Razzaque, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, R. W. Romani, C. Sgrò, D. Simone, E. J. Siskind, F. Spada, G. Spandre, P. Spinelli, C. S. Stalin, L. Stawarz, D. J. Suson, M. Takahashi, K. Tanaka, J. B. Thayer, D. J. Thompson, D. F. Torres, E. Torresi, G. Tosti, E. Troja, G. Vianello, K. S. Wood

Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The detection of high-redshift (z > 3) blazars enables the study of the evolution of the most luminous relativistic jets over cosmic time. More importantly, high-redshift blazars tend to host massive black holes and can be used to constrain the space density of heavy black holes in the early universe. Here, we report the first detection with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope of five γ-ray-emitting blazars beyond z = 3.1, more distant than any blazars previously detected in γ-rays. Among these five objects, NVSS J151002+570243 is now the most distant known γ-ray-emitting blazar at z = 4.31. These objects have steeply falling γ-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and those that have been observed in X-rays have a very hard X-ray spectrum, both typical of powerful blazars. Their Compton dominance (ratio of the inverse Compton to synchrotron peak luminosities) is also very large (>20). All of these properties place these objects among the most extreme members of the blazar population. Their optical spectra and the modeling of their optical-UV SEDs confirm that these objects harbor massive black holes (M_BH ∼ 10 ^8-10 M_o ). We find that, at z ≈ 4, the space density of >10⁹ M_o black holes hosted in radio-loud and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are similar, implying that radio-loudness may play a key role in rapid black hole growth in the early universe.

Original language	English
Article number	L5
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	837
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2017

Keywords

galaxies: active
galaxies: high-redshift
galaxies: jets
gamma rays: galaxies
quasars: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

Cite this

Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Baldini, L., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Gonzalez, J. B., Bellazzini, R., Bissaldi, E., Blandford, R. D., Bloom, E. D., Bonino, R., Bottacini, E., Bregeon, J., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., Cameron, R. A., Caragiulo, M., ... Wood, K. S. (2017). Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 837(1), Article L5. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

@article{a0ca7f0cb1524b729398d64900aba8c3,

title = "Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years",

abstract = "The detection of high-redshift (z > 3) blazars enables the study of the evolution of the most luminous relativistic jets over cosmic time. More importantly, high-redshift blazars tend to host massive black holes and can be used to constrain the space density of heavy black holes in the early universe. Here, we report the first detection with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope of five γ-ray-emitting blazars beyond z = 3.1, more distant than any blazars previously detected in γ-rays. Among these five objects, NVSS J151002+570243 is now the most distant known γ-ray-emitting blazar at z = 4.31. These objects have steeply falling γ-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and those that have been observed in X-rays have a very hard X-ray spectrum, both typical of powerful blazars. Their Compton dominance (ratio of the inverse Compton to synchrotron peak luminosities) is also very large (>20). All of these properties place these objects among the most extreme members of the blazar population. Their optical spectra and the modeling of their optical-UV SEDs confirm that these objects harbor massive black holes (MBH ∼ 10 8-10 Mo ). We find that, at z ≈ 4, the space density of >109 Mo black holes hosted in radio-loud and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are similar, implying that radio-loudness may play a key role in rapid black hole growth in the early universe.",

keywords = "galaxies: active, galaxies: high-redshift, galaxies: jets, gamma rays: galaxies, quasars: general",

author = "M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and L. Baldini and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and Gonzalez, {J. Becerra} and R. Bellazzini and E. Bissaldi and Blandford, {R. D.} and Bloom, {E. D.} and R. Bonino and E. Bottacini and J. Bregeon and P. Bruel and R. Buehler and S. Buson and Cameron, {R. A.} and M. Caragiulo and Caraveo, {P. A.} and E. Cavazzuti and C. Cecchi and Cheung, {C. C.} and J. Chiang and G. Chiaro and S. Ciprini and J. Conrad and D. Costantin and F. Costanza and S. Cutini and F. D'Ammando and Palma, {F. De} and R. Desiante and Digel, {S. W.} and Lalla, {N. Di} and Mauro, {M. Di} and Venere, {L. Di} and A. Dom{\'i}nguez and Drell, {P. S.} and C. Favuzzi and Fegan, {S. J.} and Ferrara, {E. C.} and J. Finke and Focke, {W. B.} and Y. Fukazawa and S. Funk and P. Fusco and F. Gargano and D. Gasparrini and N. Giglietto and F. Giordano and M. Giroletti and D. Green and Grenier, {I. A.} and L. Guillemot and S. Guiriec and Hartmann, {D. H.} and E. Hays and D. Horan and T. Jogler and G. J{\'o}hannesson and Johnson, {A. S.} and M. Kuss and Mura, {G. La} and S. Larsson and L. Latronico and J. Li and F. Longo and F. Loparco and Lovellette, {M. N.} and P. Lubrano and Magill, {J. D.} and S. Maldera and A. Manfreda and L. Marcotulli and Mazziotta, {M. N.} and Michelson, {P. F.} and N. Mirabal and W. Mitthumsiri and T. Mizuno and Monzani, {M. E.} and A. Morselli and Moskalenko, {I. V.} and M. Negro and E. Nuss and T. Ohsugi and R. Ojha and N. Omodei and M. Orienti and E. Orlando and Ormes, {J. F.} and Paliya, {V. S.} and D. Paneque and Perkins, {J. S.} and M. Persic and M. Pesce-Rollins and F. Piron and Porter, {T. A.} and G. Principe and S. Rain{\`o} and R. Rando and B. Rani and M. Razzano and S. Razzaque and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and Romani, {R. W.} and C. Sgr{\`o} and D. Simone and Siskind, {E. J.} and F. Spada and G. Spandre and P. Spinelli and Stalin, {C. S.} and L. Stawarz and Suson, {D. J.} and M. Takahashi and K. Tanaka and Thayer, {J. B.} and Thompson, {D. J.} and Torres, {D. F.} and E. Torresi and G. Tosti and E. Troja and G. Vianello and Wood, {K. S.}",

year = "2017",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff",

language = "English",

volume = "837",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "1",

}

Ackermann, M, Ajello, M, Baldini, L, Ballet, J, Barbiellini, G, Bastieri, D, Gonzalez, JB, Bellazzini, R, Bissaldi, E, Blandford, RD, Bloom, ED, Bonino, R, Bottacini, E, Bregeon, J, Bruel, P, Buehler, R, Buson, S, Cameron, RA, Caragiulo, M, Caraveo, PA, Cavazzuti, E, Cecchi, C, Cheung, CC, Chiang, J, Chiaro, G, Ciprini, S, Conrad, J, Costantin, D, Costanza, F, Cutini, S, D'Ammando, F, Palma, FD, Desiante, R, Digel, SW, Lalla, ND, Mauro, MD, Venere, LD, Domínguez, A, Drell, PS, Favuzzi, C, Fegan, SJ, Ferrara, EC, Finke, J, Focke, WB, Fukazawa, Y, Funk, S, Fusco, P, Gargano, F, Gasparrini, D, Giglietto, N, Giordano, F, Giroletti, M, Green, D, Grenier, IA, Guillemot, L, Guiriec, S, Hartmann, DH, Hays, E, Horan, D, Jogler, T, Jóhannesson, G, Johnson, AS, Kuss, M, Mura, GL, Larsson, S, Latronico, L, Li, J, Longo, F, Loparco, F, Lovellette, MN, Lubrano, P, Magill, JD, Maldera, S, Manfreda, A, Marcotulli, L, Mazziotta, MN, Michelson, PF, Mirabal, N, Mitthumsiri, W, Mizuno, T, Monzani, ME, Morselli, A, Moskalenko, IV, Negro, M, Nuss, E, Ohsugi, T, Ojha, R, Omodei, N, Orienti, M, Orlando, E, Ormes, JF, Paliya, VS, Paneque, D, Perkins, JS, Persic, M, Pesce-Rollins, M, Piron, F, Porter, TA, Principe, G, Rainò, S, Rando, R, Rani, B, Razzano, M, Razzaque, S, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Romani, RW, Sgrò, C, Simone, D, Siskind, EJ, Spada, F, Spandre, G, Spinelli, P, Stalin, CS, Stawarz, L, Suson, DJ, Takahashi, M, Tanaka, K, Thayer, JB, Thompson, DJ, Torres, DF, Torresi, E, Tosti, G, Troja, E, Vianello, G & Wood, KS 2017, 'Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 837, no. 1, L5. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Baldini, L.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Gonzalez, J. Becerra

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Bissaldi, E.

AU - Blandford, R. D.

AU - Bloom, E. D.

AU - Bonino, R.

AU - Bottacini, E.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Bruel, P.

AU - Buehler, R.

AU - Buson, S.

AU - Cameron, R. A.

AU - Caragiulo, M.

AU - Caraveo, P. A.

AU - Cavazzuti, E.

AU - Cecchi, C.

AU - Cheung, C. C.

AU - Chiang, J.

AU - Chiaro, G.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Conrad, J.

AU - Costantin, D.

AU - Costanza, F.

AU - Cutini, S.

AU - D'Ammando, F.

AU - Palma, F. De

AU - Desiante, R.

AU - Digel, S. W.

AU - Lalla, N. Di

AU - Mauro, M. Di

AU - Venere, L. Di

AU - Domínguez, A.

AU - Drell, P. S.

AU - Favuzzi, C.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Ferrara, E. C.

AU - Finke, J.

AU - Focke, W. B.

AU - Fukazawa, Y.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Fusco, P.

AU - Gargano, F.

AU - Gasparrini, D.

AU - Giglietto, N.

AU - Giordano, F.

AU - Giroletti, M.

AU - Green, D.

AU - Grenier, I. A.

AU - Guillemot, L.

AU - Guiriec, S.

AU - Hartmann, D. H.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Horan, D.

AU - Jogler, T.

AU - Jóhannesson, G.

AU - Johnson, A. S.

AU - Kuss, M.

AU - Mura, G. La

AU - Larsson, S.

AU - Latronico, L.

AU - Li, J.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - Loparco, F.

AU - Lovellette, M. N.

AU - Lubrano, P.

AU - Magill, J. D.

AU - Maldera, S.

AU - Manfreda, A.

AU - Marcotulli, L.

AU - Mazziotta, M. N.

AU - Michelson, P. F.

AU - Mirabal, N.

AU - Mitthumsiri, W.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Monzani, M. E.

AU - Morselli, A.

AU - Moskalenko, I. V.

AU - Negro, M.

AU - Nuss, E.

AU - Ohsugi, T.

AU - Ojha, R.

AU - Omodei, N.

AU - Orienti, M.

AU - Orlando, E.

AU - Ormes, J. F.

AU - Paliya, V. S.

AU - Paneque, D.

AU - Perkins, J. S.

AU - Persic, M.

AU - Pesce-Rollins, M.

AU - Piron, F.

AU - Porter, T. A.

AU - Principe, G.

AU - Rainò, S.

AU - Rando, R.

AU - Rani, B.

AU - Razzano, M.

AU - Razzaque, S.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Romani, R. W.

AU - Sgrò, C.

AU - Simone, D.

AU - Siskind, E. J.

AU - Spada, F.

AU - Spandre, G.

AU - Spinelli, P.

AU - Stalin, C. S.

AU - Stawarz, L.

AU - Suson, D. J.

AU - Takahashi, M.

AU - Tanaka, K.

AU - Thayer, J. B.

AU - Thompson, D. J.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Torresi, E.

AU - Tosti, G.

AU - Troja, E.

AU - Vianello, G.

AU - Wood, K. S.

PY - 2017/3/1

Y1 - 2017/3/1

N2 - The detection of high-redshift (z > 3) blazars enables the study of the evolution of the most luminous relativistic jets over cosmic time. More importantly, high-redshift blazars tend to host massive black holes and can be used to constrain the space density of heavy black holes in the early universe. Here, we report the first detection with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope of five γ-ray-emitting blazars beyond z = 3.1, more distant than any blazars previously detected in γ-rays. Among these five objects, NVSS J151002+570243 is now the most distant known γ-ray-emitting blazar at z = 4.31. These objects have steeply falling γ-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and those that have been observed in X-rays have a very hard X-ray spectrum, both typical of powerful blazars. Their Compton dominance (ratio of the inverse Compton to synchrotron peak luminosities) is also very large (>20). All of these properties place these objects among the most extreme members of the blazar population. Their optical spectra and the modeling of their optical-UV SEDs confirm that these objects harbor massive black holes (MBH ∼ 10 8-10 Mo ). We find that, at z ≈ 4, the space density of >109 Mo black holes hosted in radio-loud and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are similar, implying that radio-loudness may play a key role in rapid black hole growth in the early universe.

AB - The detection of high-redshift (z > 3) blazars enables the study of the evolution of the most luminous relativistic jets over cosmic time. More importantly, high-redshift blazars tend to host massive black holes and can be used to constrain the space density of heavy black holes in the early universe. Here, we report the first detection with the Fermi-Large Area Telescope of five γ-ray-emitting blazars beyond z = 3.1, more distant than any blazars previously detected in γ-rays. Among these five objects, NVSS J151002+570243 is now the most distant known γ-ray-emitting blazar at z = 4.31. These objects have steeply falling γ-ray spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and those that have been observed in X-rays have a very hard X-ray spectrum, both typical of powerful blazars. Their Compton dominance (ratio of the inverse Compton to synchrotron peak luminosities) is also very large (>20). All of these properties place these objects among the most extreme members of the blazar population. Their optical spectra and the modeling of their optical-UV SEDs confirm that these objects harbor massive black holes (MBH ∼ 10 8-10 Mo ). We find that, at z ≈ 4, the space density of >109 Mo black holes hosted in radio-loud and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei are similar, implying that radio-loudness may play a key role in rapid black hole growth in the early universe.

KW - galaxies: active

KW - galaxies: high-redshift

KW - galaxies: jets

KW - gamma rays: galaxies

KW - quasars: general

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015148943&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa5fff

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85015148943

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 837

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 1

M1 - L5

ER -

Gamma-Ray Blazars within the First 2 Billion Years

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this