We present a spectroscopic analysis of a broad-line active galactic nucleus (AGN) selected as little red dot at $z = 5.3$ behind the Bullet cluster (Bz5.3), based on JWST/NIRCam and NIRSpec data. The detection of strong FeII, OI, and CaII triplet emission lines, along with the evidence of broad Balmer lines, provides strong evidence of a broad-line region (BLR) and an accreting supermassive black hole. Notably, we report the first detection of the $\lambda1304$ bump (i.e., blend of OI$λ$1304 and SiII) at high redshift, a feature commonly seen in local AGNs but not yet reported in the early Universe. The OI$λ$1304/$\lambda8446$ photon ratio provides an independent measurement of dust attenuation in galaxies. In Bz5.3, this ratio is highly suppressed (0.1--0.3), implying significant internal dust extinction, with estimated dust attenuation $A_V \sim 0.4$--$1.0$. We identify Ly$β$ fluorescence as the dominant excitation mechanism of the low-ionization lines, with additional contributions from collisional excitation. High OI$λ$8446 equivalent width and weak OI$λ$7774 support this interpretation. The detection of iron emission, whether from broad permitted or narrow forbidden lines, supports the presence of a stratified BLR, as also recently proposed in local LRDs. Photoionization modeling of OI$λ$8446 and CaII further suggests the coexistence of multiple gas phases with distinct densities and ionization states, highlighting the complexity of the BLR. Bz5.3 thus offers a rare window into early AGN activity and BLR physics at early times.

A deep dive down the broad-line region: permitted OI, CaII and FeII emission in an AGN Little Red Dot at z=5.3 / Roberta Tripodi; Maruša Bradač; Francesco D'Eugenio; Nicholas Martis; Gregor Rihtaršič; Chris Willott; Laura Pentericci; Bianca Moreschini; Maxim Markevitch; Yoshihisa Asada; Antonello Calabrò; Guillaume Desprez; Giordano Felicioni; Gaia Gaspar; Anthony H. Gonzalez; Anishya Harshan; Xihan Ji; Jon Judež; Brian C. Lemaux; Alessandro Marconi; Vladan Markov; Rosa M. Merida; Lorenzo Napolitano; Gaël Noirot; Massimiliano Parente; Annika H. G. Peter; Luke Robbins; Andrew Robertson; Ghassan T. E. Sarrouh; Marcin Sawicki. - In: THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS. - ISSN 2041-8205. - ELETTRONICO. - (2025), pp. 0-0. [10.3847/2041-8213/ae13a9]

A deep dive down the broad-line region: permitted OI, CaII and FeII emission in an AGN Little Red Dot at z=5.3

Bianca Moreschini;Alessandro Marconi;
2025

Abstract

We present a spectroscopic analysis of a broad-line active galactic nucleus (AGN) selected as little red dot at $z = 5.3$ behind the Bullet cluster (Bz5.3), based on JWST/NIRCam and NIRSpec data. The detection of strong FeII, OI, and CaII triplet emission lines, along with the evidence of broad Balmer lines, provides strong evidence of a broad-line region (BLR) and an accreting supermassive black hole. Notably, we report the first detection of the $\lambda1304$ bump (i.e., blend of OI$λ$1304 and SiII) at high redshift, a feature commonly seen in local AGNs but not yet reported in the early Universe. The OI$λ$1304/$\lambda8446$ photon ratio provides an independent measurement of dust attenuation in galaxies. In Bz5.3, this ratio is highly suppressed (0.1--0.3), implying significant internal dust extinction, with estimated dust attenuation $A_V \sim 0.4$--$1.0$. We identify Ly$β$ fluorescence as the dominant excitation mechanism of the low-ionization lines, with additional contributions from collisional excitation. High OI$λ$8446 equivalent width and weak OI$λ$7774 support this interpretation. The detection of iron emission, whether from broad permitted or narrow forbidden lines, supports the presence of a stratified BLR, as also recently proposed in local LRDs. Photoionization modeling of OI$λ$8446 and CaII further suggests the coexistence of multiple gas phases with distinct densities and ionization states, highlighting the complexity of the BLR. Bz5.3 thus offers a rare window into early AGN activity and BLR physics at early times.
2025
0
0
Roberta Tripodi; Maruša Bradač; Francesco D'Eugenio; Nicholas Martis; Gregor Rihtaršič; Chris Willott; Laura Pentericci; Bianca Moreschini; Maxim Mark...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1450322
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