On the Contribution of Active Galactic Nuclei to the High-Redshift Metagalactic Ionizing Background

TL;DR

This study evaluates the role of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in contributing to the high-redshift ionizing background, finding they may account for observed opacity variations but conflict with IGM temperature constraints.

Contribution

It demonstrates that AGN can better explain certain observations but highlights tensions with IGM thermal history constraints, challenging their dominant role in reionization.

Findings

AGN models fit H I Lyman-alpha opacity variations better.

AGN-dominated models conflict with IGM temperature measurements.

Current simulations may not fully capture He II opacity evolution.

Abstract

Motivated by the claimed detection of a large population of faint active galactic nuclei (AGN) at high redshift, recent studies have proposed models in which AGN contribute significantly to the z > 4 H I ionizing background. In some models, AGN are even the chief sources of reionization. If correct, these models would make necessary a complete revision to the standard view that galaxies dominated the high-redshift ionizing background. It has been suggested that AGN-dominated models can better account for two recent observations that appear to be in conflict with the standard view: (1) large opacity variations in the z ~ 5.5 H I Lyman-alpha forest, and (2) slow evolution in the mean opacity of the He II Lyman-alpha forest. Large spatial fluctuations in the ionizing background from the brightness and rarity of AGN may account for the former, while the earlier onset of He II reionization in these models may account for the latter. Here we show that models in which AGN emissions source >~ 50 % of the ionizing background generally provide a better fit to the observed H I Lyman-alpha forest opacity variations compared to standard galaxy-dominated models. However, we argue that these AGN-dominated models are in tension with constraints on the thermal history of the intergalactic medium (IGM). Under standard assumptions about the spectra of AGN, we show that the earlier onset of He II reionization heats up the IGM well above recent temperature measurements. We further argue that the slower evolution of the mean opacity of the He II Lyman-alpha forest relative to simulations may reflect deficiencies in current simulations rather than favor AGN-dominated models as has been suggested.