Dissecting the complex environment of a distant quasar with MUSE

TL;DR

This study uses MUSE data to analyze a high-redshift quasar system, revealing multiple companion galaxies, gravitational interactions, and insights into the quasar's environment and ionization mechanisms.

Contribution

First detailed MUSE analysis of a z=3.2 quasar system showing galaxy interactions, gas dynamics, and quasar emission properties at high redshift.

Findings

Identified four companion galaxies, with at least two new discoveries.

Detected extended Lyalpha emission indicating gravitational interactions.

Observed double-peaked Lyalpha spectrum suggesting neutral material absorption.

Abstract

High redshift quasars can be used to trace the early growth of massive galaxies and may be triggered by galaxy-galaxy interactions. We present MUSE science verification data on one such interacting system consisting of the well-studied z=3.2 PKS1614+051 quasar, its AGN companion galaxy and bridge of material radiating in Lyalpha between the quasar and its companion. We find a total of four companion galaxies (at least two galaxies are new discoveries), three of which reside within the likely virial radius of the quasar host, suggesting that the system will evolve into a massive elliptical galaxy by the present day. The MUSE data are of sufficient quality to split the extended Lyalpha emission line into narrow velocity channels. In these the gas can be seen extending towards each of the three neighbouring galaxies suggesting that the emission-line gas originates in a gravitational interaction between the galaxies and the quasar host. The photoionization source of this gas is less clear but is probably dominated by the two AGN. The quasar's Lyalpha emission spectrum is double-peaked, likely due to absorbing neutral material at the quasar's systemic redshift with a low column density as no damping wings are present. The spectral profiles of the AGN and bridge's Lyalpha emission are also consistent with absorption at the same redshift indicating this neutral material may extend over > 50 kpc. The fact that the neutral material is seen in the line of sight to the quasar and transverse to it, and the fact that we see the quasar and it also illuminates the emission-line bridge, suggests the quasar radiates isotropically and any obscuring torus is small. These results demonstrate the power of MUSE for investigating the dynamics of interacting systems at high redshift.