The origin of large emission line widths in massive galaxies at redshifts $z\sim 3-4$

TL;DR

This study investigates the origins of broad emission line widths in massive galaxies at redshifts 3-4, revealing a high prevalence of AGN activity that influences galaxy evolution during this epoch.

Contribution

It provides evidence that AGN activity is the primary cause of broad emission lines in massive galaxies at z~3-4, highlighting a peak in supermassive black hole development.

Findings

High fraction (60-70%) of AGN in massive galaxies at z~3-4.

Broad emission lines are mainly due to AGN, not galaxy-wide kinematics.

Lower AGN fraction (20-30%) in quiescent galaxies at the same epoch.

Abstract

We present a sample of 22 massive galaxies with stellar masses $>10^{10} M_{\odot}$ at $3<z<4$ with deep H and K-band high resolution spectra (R=3500-3000) from Keck/MOSFIRE and VLT/KMOS near-infrared spectrographs. We find a large fraction have strong [OIII]5007 and H$\beta$ emission lines with large line widths ($\sigma$ 100 -- 450 km/s). We measure the sizes of our galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope images and consider the potential kinematic scaling relations of our sample; and rule out an explanation for these broad lines in terms of galaxy-wide kinematics. Based on consideration of the [OIII]5007 $/$ H$\beta$ flux ratios, their location in the Mass--Excitation diagram, and the derived bolometric luminosities, we conclude that Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and their Narrow Line Regions most likely give rise to this emission. At redshifts $3<z<4$, we find significantly high AGN fractions in massive galaxies, ranging from 60--70\% for the mass range $10<\log(M_{\star}/M_{\odot})<11$, with a lower limit 30\% for all galaxies within that redshift range when we apply our most stringent AGN criteria. We also find a considerably lower AGN fraction in massive quiescent galaxies, ranging from 20-30\%. These fractions of AGN point to the period between $3<z<4$ being a time of heightened activity for the development of supermassive black holes in the massive end of the galaxy population and provide evidence for their role in the emergence of the first massive quenched galaxies at this epoch.