Role of Magnetic Fields in Fueling Seyfert Nuclei

Abstract

Molecular gas is believed to be the fuel for star formation and nuclear activity in Seyfert galaxies. To explore the role of magnetic fields in funneling molecular gas into the nuclear region, measurements of the magnetic fields embedded in molecular gas are needed. By applying the new velocity gradient technique (VGT) to CO isotopolog data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer Arcsecond Whirlpool Survey, we obtain the first detection of CO-associated magnetic fields in several nearby Seyfert galaxies and their unprecedented high-resolution magnetic field maps. The VGT-measured magnetic fields in molecular gas globally agree with those inferred from existing HAWC+ dust polarization and Very Large Array synchrotron polarization. An overall good alignment between the magnetic fields traced by VGT-CO and by synchrotron polarization may support the correlation between star formation and cosmic-ray generation. We find that the magnetic fields traced by VGT-CO have a significant radial component in the central regions of most Seyferts in our sample, where efficient molecular gas inflows or outflow may occur. In particular, we find local misalignment between the magnetic fields traced by CO and dust polarization within the nuclear ring of NGC 1097, and the former aligns with the central bar’s orientation. This misalignment reveals different magnetic field configurations in different gas phases and may provide an observational diagnostic for the ongoing multiphase fueling of Seyfert activity.