| Description |
We propose to secure Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations for a unique sample of 44 z=4.8 active galactic nuclei (AGNs). This is a genuine optically-selected flux limited sample that was observed by us from the ground thus providing reliable black hole (BH) and accretion rate estimates based on the properties of the strong MgII 2800A line. Reliable BH mass estimates at z>2 can onlybe obtained in narrow redshift bands at around z=2.3, z=3.3,z=4.8 and z=6.5. Our z=4.8 sample is thus a corner stone for answering any question related to galaxy and BH evolution, in particular the co-evolution (if any) of BHs and star formation (SF) in the early universe. The Herschel observations will provide invaluableinformation about the SF rate (SFR) in the host galaxies of the z=4.8AGNs which, when combined with observations in the other redshiftbands will trace the growth of the most massive BHs and the stellarmass in their hosts. SPIRE observations will provide SFRs (or upper limits on the SFR) in all sources. PACS observations of the more luminous sources in the sample will provide a. priors for the SPIRE observations that will allow us to go below the confusion limits and b. unique information about the 17-40 micron (rest) emission by warm (200K) dust close to the centers of these sources. |
