The first blazar observed at z>6

Abstract

We present the discovery of PSO J030947.49+271757.31, the radio brightest (23.7 mJy at 1.4 GHz) active galactic nucleus (AGN) at z>6.0. It was selected by cross-matching the NRAO VLA Sky Survey and the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System PS1 databases and its high-z nature was confirmed by a dedicated spectroscopic observation at the Large Binocular Telescope. A pointed Neil Gehrels $Swift$ Observatory XRT observation allowed us to measure a flux of $\sim$3.4$\times$10${}^{-14}$ erg s${}^{-1}$ cm${}^{-2}$ in the [0.5-10] keV energy band, which also makes this object the X-ray brightest AGN ever observed at z>6.0. Its flat radio spectrum (${\alpha }_{\nu r}$<0.5), very high radio loudness (R>10${}^3$), and strong X-ray emission, compared to the optical, support the hypothesis of the blazar nature of this source. %i.e. a radio-loud (RL) AGN with the relativistic jet pointed toward us. Assuming that this is the only blazar at this redshift in the surveyed area of sky, we derive a space density of blazars at z$\sim$6 and with M$_{1450 \mboxÅ}$ < -25.1 of 5.5${}_{-4.6}^{+11.2}$$\times$10${}^{-3}$ Gpc${}^{-3}$. From this number, and assuming a reasonable value of the bulk velocity of the jet ($\Gamma$=10), we can also infer a space density of the entire radio-loud AGN population at z$\sim$6 with the same optical/UV absolute magnitude of 1.10${}_{-0.91}^{+2.53}$ Gpc${}^{-3}$. Larger samples of blazars will be necessary to better constrain these estimates.

arXiv comment7 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, Accepted to publication in A&A Letters. Typo corrections

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