Fabry—Perot imaging of NGC 6090 in H2 emission

Abstract

We have obtained an H2v=1–0 S(1) image of a merging galaxy system, NGC 6090, by using a Fabry–Perot imager. The H2 emission originates between the double nuclei of pre-merger galaxies, and exhibits an arc-like or ring-like structure almost connecting the double nuclei. This structure is similar to that suggested for Arp 220 from the velocity field measured by CO radio emission. The separation of the double nuclei in NGC 6090 is 5–6 arcsec, corresponding to a projected distance of 3–4 kpc. This is much larger than that of Arp 220 and suggests that the molecular gas distribution can form an organized shape between the nuclei, such as a ring, in a rather early phase of merging.