Constraints on the host galaxy and AGN properties of three z > 6 JWST AGN from NOEMA observations

TL;DR

This study used NOEMA and JWST data to analyze three high-redshift AGN, finding low [CII] emission, revised stellar and black hole masses, and insights into their dust and gas properties, emphasizing millimeter observations' importance.

Contribution

First detailed millimeter and JWST-based analysis of z>6 AGN, revealing low [CII] luminosity, revised host galaxy properties, and AGN characteristics without exotic models.

Findings

[CII] emission is weaker than expected from SFR relations.

Revised stellar masses are up to 2 dex lower than previous estimates.

AGN host galaxies show patchy dust distribution characteristics.

Abstract

We targeted with deep NOEMA observations the [CII]158$\mu$m emission of three JWST-discovered AGN at z>6. Two of them have the typical features of Little Red Dots (LRDs), while the third one is a blue, extended, Type I AGN. We do not significantly detect [CII] emission or dust continuum in any of the targets, even after stacking. The resulting [CII] luminosity upper limits, $\log (L_{[CII]}/L_{\odot})<7.77-8.1$, lie $\sim2\sigma$ below the values expected from the [CII]-SFR relation, and we explore different scenarios to explain the lack of [CII]. We obtained upper limits on the gas masses of $\log (M_{gas}/M_{\odot})<9.26-9.59$ corresponding to $\log( M_{dust}/M_{\odot})<5.68-6.55$ assuming a metallicity dependent dust to gas ratio. Using the continuum non-detections (rms $\sim 16-25 ~\mu Jy$) together with JWST/MIRI constraints, we performed a revised SED-fitting decomposition, resulting in stellar masses up to $\sim 2$ dex lower than previously reported, and implying $0.03\lesssim M_{BH}/M_{*}\lesssim0.7$. For the two LRDs, the SED is well reproduced by stellar emission in the rest-frame UV, while the rising rest-frame optical slope, flattening toward the near-infrared, is consistent with emission from a Type I AGN partially obscured along the polar direction with $E(B-V)_{\rm polar}\simeq 1$, in agreement with attenuation derived from the broad lines Balmer decrement. This decomposition demonstrates that a relatively standard AGN configuration can reproduce the SEDs of the two LRDs, without invoking more exotic scenarios. Finally, we investigate the positions of the three sources in the $IRX-\beta_{UV}$ plane, finding that they lie in a parameter space where galaxies are typically characterized by patchy dust distributions. Our analysis highlights the importance of millimeter constraints to characterize the different physical properties of high-z AGN.