A quasar shedding its dust cocoon at redshift 2

Abstract

We present the first near-IR spectroscopy and joint analyses of multi-wavelength observations for SDSS J082747.14+425241.1, a dust-reddened, weak broad emission-line quasar (WLQ) undergoing a remarkable broad absorption line (BAL) transformation. The systemic redshift is more precisely measured to be $z=2.070\pm 0.001$ using H$\beta$ compared to $z=2.040\pm 0.003$ using \mgii\ from the literature, signifying an extreme \mgii\ blueshift of $2140\pm 530$ \kms\ relative to H$\beta$. Using the H$\beta$-based single-epoch scaling relation with a systematic uncertainty of 0.3 dex, its black hole (BH) mass and Eddington ratio are estimated to be $M_{\mathrm{BH}}\sim 6.1\times 10^8{M}_{\odot }$ and ${\lambda }_{\mathrm{Edd}}\sim 0.71$, indicative of being in a rapidly accreting phase. Our investigations confirm the WLQ nature and the LoBAL$\to$HiBAL transformation, along with a factor of 2 increase in the \mgii+\feii\ emission strength and a decrease of 0.1 in $E(B-V)$ over two decades. The kinetic power of this LoBAL wind at $R\sim$15 pc from its BH is estimated to be $\sim$43\% of the Eddington luminosity, sufficient for quasar feedback upon its host galaxy albeit with an order-of-magnitude uncertainty. This quasar provides a clear example of the long-sought scenario where LoBAL quasars are surrounded by dust cocoons, and wide-angle nuclear winds play a key role in the transition for red quasars evolving into the commonly seen blue quasars.

arXiv comment11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

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