The Host Galaxy (If Any) of the Little Red Dots
We investigate the host galaxy properties of eight little red dots (LRDs) selected from the JWST UNCOVER survey, applying a new technique ( GalfitS ) to simultaneously fit the morphology and spectral energy distribution using multiband NIRCam images covering ∼1–4 μ m. We detect the host galaxy in on...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada93a |
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| Summary: | We investigate the host galaxy properties of eight little red dots (LRDs) selected from the JWST UNCOVER survey, applying a new technique ( GalfitS ) to simultaneously fit the morphology and spectral energy distribution using multiband NIRCam images covering ∼1–4 μ m. We detect the host galaxy in only one LRD, MSAID38108 at z = 4.96, which has a stellar mass of ${\mathrm{log}}\,({M}_{* }/{M}_{\odot })=8.6{6}_{-0.23}^{+0.24}$ , an effective radius of ${R}_{e}=0.6{6}_{-0.05}^{+0.08}$ kpc, and a Sérsic index of $n=0.7{1}_{-0.08}^{+0.07}$ . No host emission centered on the central point source is found in the other seven LRDs. We derive stringent upper limits for the stellar mass of a hypothetical host galaxy by conducting realistic mock simulations that place high-redshift galaxy images under the LRDs. Based on the black hole masses estimated from the broad H α emission line, the derived stellar mass limits are at least a factor of 10 lower than expected from the z ≈ 0 scaling relation between black hole mass and host galaxy stellar mass. Intriguingly, four of the LRDs (50% of the sample) show extended, off-centered emission, which is particularly prominent in the bluer bands. The asymmetric emission of two sources can be modeled as stellar emission, but the nature of the other two is unclear. |
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| ISSN: | 1538-4357 |