Nuclear Disk Research Articles

A Supernova-driven, Magnetically Collimated Outflow as the Origin of the Galactic Center Radio Bubbles

Abstract A pair of nonthermal radio bubbles recently discovered in the inner few hundred parsecs of the Galactic center bears a close spatial association with elongated, thermal X-ray features called the X-ray chimneys. While their morphology, position, and orientation vividly point to an outflow from the Galactic center, the physical processes responsible for the outflow remain to be understood. We use 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations to test the hypothesis that the radio bubbles/X-ray chimneys are the manifestation of an energetic outflow driven by multiple core-collapsed supernovae (SNe) in the nuclear stellar disk, where numerous massive stars are known to be present. Our simulations are run with different combinations of two main parameters, the supernova birth rate and the strength of a global magnetic field being vertically oriented with respect to the disk. The simulation results show that a hot gas outflow can naturally form and acquire a vertically elongated shape due to collimation by the magnetic pressure. In particular, the simulation with an initial magnetic field strength of 80 μG and a supernova rate of 1 kyr−1 can well reproduce the observed morphology, internal energy, and X-ray luminosity of the bubbles after an evolutionary time of 330 kyr. On the other hand, a magnetic field strength of 200 μG gives rise to an overly elongated outflow that is inconsistent with the observed bubbles. The simulations also reveal that, inside the bubbles, mutual collisions between the shock waves of individual SNe produce dense filaments of locally amplified magnetic field. Such filaments may account for a fraction of the synchrotron-emitting radio filaments known to exist in the Galactic center.

CON-quest

Context. Some luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs and ULIRGs) host extremely compact (r < 100 pc) and dusty nuclei. The high extinction associated with large column densities of gas and dust toward these objects render them hard to detect at many wavelengths. The intense infrared radiation arising from warm dust in these sources can provide a significant fraction of the bolometric luminosity of the galaxy and is prone to excite vibrational levels of molecules such as HCN. This results in emission from the rotational transitions of vibrationally excited HCN (HCN-vib); the brightest emission is found in compact obscured nuclei (CONs; ΣHCN − vib > 1 L⊙ pc−2 in the J = 3−2 transition). However, there have been no systematic searches for CONs, and it is unknown how common they are. Aims. We aim to establish how common CONs are in the local Universe (z < 0.08), and whether their prevalence depends on the luminosity or other properties of the host galaxy. Methods. We conducted an Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array survey of the rotational J = 3−2 transition of HCN-vib in a volume-limited sample of 46 far-infrared luminous galaxies. Results. Compact obscured nuclei are identified in 38−13+18% of the ULIRGs, 21−6+12% of the LIRGs, and 0−0+9% of the lower luminosity galaxies. We find no dependence on the inclination of the host galaxy, but strong evidence of lower IRAS 25 μm to 60 μm flux density ratios (f25/f60) in CONs (with the exception of one galaxy, NGC 4418) compared to the rest of the sample. Furthermore, we find that CONs have stronger silicate features (s9.7 μm), but similar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon equivalent widths (EQW6.2 μm) compared to other galaxies. Along with signatures of molecular inflows seen in the far-infrared in most CONs, submillimeter observations also reveal compact, often collimated, outflows. Conclusions. In the local Universe, CONs are primarily found in (U)LIRGs, in which they are remarkably common. As such systems are often highly disturbed, inclinations are difficult to estimate, and high-resolution continuum observations of the individual nuclei are required to determine if the CON phenomenon is related to the inclinations of the nuclear disks. Further studies of the in- and outflow properties of CONs should also be conducted to investigate how these are connected to each other and to the CON phenomenon. The lower f25/f60 ratios in CONs as well as the results for the mid-infrared diagnostics investigated (EQW6.2 μm and s9.7 μm) are consistent with the notion that large dust columns gradually shift the radiation from the hot nucleus to longer wavelengths, making the mid- and far-infrared “photospheres” significantly cooler than the interior regions. Finally, to assess the importance of CONs in the context of galaxy evolution, it is necessary to extend this study to higher redshifts where (U)LIRGs are more common.

Galactic merger implications for eccentric nuclear discs: a mechanism for disc alignment

ABSTRACT The nucleus of our nearest, large galactic neighbour, M31, contains an eccentric nuclear disc – a disc of stars on eccentric, apsidally aligned orbits around a supermassive black hole (SMBH). Previous studies of eccentric nuclear discs considered only an isolated disc, and did not study their dynamics under galaxy mergers (particularly a perturbing SMBH). Here, we present the first study of how eccentric discs are affected by a galactic merger. We perform N-body simulations to study the disc under a range of different possible SMBH initial conditions. A second SMBH in the disc always disrupts it, but more distant SMBHs can shut off differential precession and stabilize the disc. This results in a more aligned disc, nearly uniform eccentricity profile, and suppression of tidal disruption events compared to the isolated disc. We also discuss implications of our work for the presence of a secondary SMBH in M31.

Distance to three molecular clouds in the central molecular zone

Context. The determination of absolute and relative distances of molecular clouds along the line-of-sight towards the central molecular zone (CMZ) is crucial for inferring its orbital structure and dynamics and for understanding star formation in the clouds. Aims. Recent work has suggested that the G0.253+0.016 cloud (the Brick) does not belong to the CMZ. This motivated us to crosscheck those results, computing the absolute and relative distances to the Brick as well as to another two molecular clouds (the 50 km s−1 and the 20 km s−1 clouds), and discuss their CMZ membership. Methods. We used the colour magnitude diagrams Ks versus H − Ks to compare stars detected towards the target clouds with stars detected towards three reference regions in the nuclear stellar disc (NSD) and the Galactic bulge. We used red clump (RC) stars to estimate the distance to each region. Results. We found that all the clouds present a double RC feature. Such a double RC has been reported in previous work for the NSD, but not for the bulge adjacent to it. We exclude the possibility that the different RC features are located at significantly different distances. The obtained absolute and relative distances are compatible with the Galactic centre distance (∼8 kpc).

Wandering of the central black hole in a galactic nucleus and correlation of the black hole mass with the bulge mass

Abstract We investigate a mechanism for a super-massive black hole at the center of a galaxy to wander in the nucleus region. A situation is supposed in which the central black hole tends to move by the gravitational attractions from the nearby molecular clouds in a nuclear bulge but is braked via the dynamical frictions from the ambient stars there. We estimate the approximate kinetic energy of the black hole in an equilibrium between the energy gain rate through the gravitational attractions and the energy loss rate through the dynamical frictions in a nuclear bulge composed of a nuclear stellar disk and a nuclear stellar cluster as observed from our Galaxy. The wandering distance of the black hole in the gravitational potential of the nuclear bulge is evaluated to get as large as several 10 pc, when the black hole mass is relatively small. The distance, however, shrinks as the black hole mass increases, and the equilibrium solution between the energy gain and loss disappears when the black hole mass exceeds an upper limit. As a result, we can expect the following scenario for the evolution of the black hole mass: When the black hole mass is smaller than the upper limit, mass accretion of the interstellar matter in the circumnuclear region, causing the AGN activities, makes the black hole mass larger. However, when the mass gets to the upper limit, the black hole loses the balancing force against the dynamical friction and starts spiraling downward to the gravity center. From simple parameter scaling, the upper mass limit of the black hole is found to be proportional to the bulge mass, and this could explain the observed correlation of the black hole mass with the bulge mass.

Galaxies within galaxies in the TIMER survey: stellar populations of inner bars are scaled replicas of main bars

Inner bars are frequent structures in the local Universe and thought to substantially influence the nuclear regions of disc galaxies. In this study we explore the structure and dynamics of inner bars by deriving maps and radial profiles of their mean stellar population content and comparing them to previous findings in the context of main bars. To this end, we exploit observations obtained with the integral-field spectrograph MUSE of three double-barred galaxies in the TIMER sample. The results indicate that inner bars can be clearly distinguished based on their stellar population properties alone. More precisely, inner bars show significantly elevated metallicities and depleted [α/Fe] abundances. Although they exhibit slightly younger stellar ages compared to the nuclear disc, the typical age differences are small, except at their outer ends. These ends of the inner bars are clearly younger compared to their inner parts, an effect known from main bars as orbital age separation. In particular, the youngest stars (i.e. those with the lowest radial velocity dispersion) seem to occupy the most elongated orbits along the (inner) bar major axis. We speculate that these distinct ends of bars could be connected to the morphological feature of ansae. Radial profiles of metallicity and [α/Fe] enhancements are flat along the inner bar major axis, but show significantly steeper slopes along the minor axis. This radial mixing in the inner bar is also known from main bars and indicates that inner bars significantly affect the radial distribution of stars. In summary, based on maps and radial profiles of the mean stellar population content and in line with previous TIMER results, inner bars appear to be scaled down versions of the main bars seen in galaxies. This suggests the picture of a ‘galaxy within a galaxy’, with inner bars in nuclear discs being dynamically equivalent to main bars in main galaxy discs.

Super-Eddington Mass Growth of Intermediate-mass Black Holes Embedded in Dusty Circumnuclear Disks

Abstract We perform the first three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamical simulations that investigate the growth of intermediate-mass BHs (IMBHs) embedded in massive self-gravitating, dusty nuclear accretion disks. We explore the dependence of mass accretion efficiency on the gas metallicity Z and mass injection at super-Eddington accretion rates from the outer galactic disk M ̇ in , and we find that the central BH can be fed at rates exceeding the Eddington rate only when the dusty disk becomes sufficiently optically thick to ionizing radiation. In this case, mass outflows from the disk owing to photoevaporation are suppressed, and thus a large fraction (≳40%) of the mass injection rate can feed the central BH. The conditions are expressed as M ̇ in > 2.2 × 10 − 1 M ⊙ yr − 1 ( 1 + Z / 10 − 2 Z ⊙ ) − 1 ( c s / 10 km s − 1 ) , where c s is the sound speed in the gaseous disk. With increasing numerical resolution, vigorous disk fragmentation reduces the disk surface density, and dynamical heating by formed clumps makes the disk geometrically thicker. As a result, the photoevaporative mass-loss rate rises and thus the critical injection rate increases for fixed metallicity. This process enables super-Eddington growth of BHs until the BH mass reaches M BH ∼ 10 7 – 8 M ⊙ , depending on the properties of the host dark-matter halo and metal-enrichment history. In the assembly of protogalaxies, seed BHs that form in overdense regions with a mass variance of 3–4σ at z ∼ 15–20 are able to undergo short periods of rapid growth and transit into the Eddington-limited growth phase afterward to be supermassive BHs observed at z > 6–7.

Composite bulges – II. Classical bulges and nuclear discs in barred galaxies: the contrasting cases of NGC 4608 and NGC 4643

ABSTRACT We present detailed morphological, photometric, and stellar-kinematic analyses of the central regions of two massive, early-type barred galaxies with nearly identical large-scale morphologies. Both have large, strong bars with prominent inner photometric excesses that we associate with boxy/peanut-shaped (B/P) bulges; the latter constitute ∼30 per cent of the galaxy light. Inside its B/P bulge, NGC 4608 has a compact, almost circular structure (half-light radius Re ≈ 310 pc, Sérsic n = 2.2) we identify as a classical bulge, amounting to 12.1 per cent of the total light, along with a nuclear star cluster (Re ∼ 4 pc). NGC 4643, in contrast, has a nuclear disc with an unusual broken-exponential surface-brightness profile (13.2 per cent of the light), and a very small spheroidal component (Re ≈ 35 pc, n = 1.6; 0.5 per cent of the light). IFU stellar kinematics support this picture, with NGC 4608’s classical bulge slowly rotating and dominated by high velocity dispersion, while NGC 4643’s nuclear disc shows a drop to lower dispersion, rapid rotation, V–h3 anticorrelation, and elevated h4. Both galaxies show at least some evidence for V–h3correlation in the bar (outside the respective classical bulge and nuclear disc), in agreement with model predictions. Standard two-component (bulge/disc) decompositions yield B/T ∼ 0.5–0.7 (and bulge n > 2) for both galaxies. This overestimates the true ‘spheroid’ components by factors of 4 (NGC 4608) and over 100 (NGC 4643), illustrating the perils of naive bulge-disc decompositions applied to massive barred galaxies.

A proto-pseudobulge in ESO 320-G030 fed by a massive molecular inflow driven by a nuclear bar

Galaxies with nuclear bars are believed to efficiently drive gas inward, generating a nuclear starburst and possibly an active galactic nucleus. We confirm this scenario for the isolated, double-barred, luminous infrared galaxy ESO 320-G030 based on an analysis of Herschel and ALMA spectroscopic observations. Herschel/PACS and SPIRE observations of ESO 320-G030 show absorption or emission in 18 lines of H2O, which we combine with the ALMA H2O 423 − 330 448 GHz line (Eupper ∼ 400 K) and continuum images to study the physical properties of the nuclear region. Radiative transfer models indicate that three nuclear components are required to account for the multi-transition H2O and continuum data. An envelope, with radius R ∼ 130 − 150 pc, dust temperature Tdust ≈ 50 K, and NH2 ∼ 2 × 1023 cm−2, surrounds a nuclear disk with R ∼ 40 pc that is optically thick in the far-infrared (τ100 μm ∼ 1.5 − 3, NH2 ∼ 2 × 1024 cm−2). In addition, an extremely compact (R ∼ 12 pc), warm (≈100 K), and buried (τ100 μm > 5, NH2 ≳ 5 × 1024 cm−2) core component is required to account for the very high-lying H2O absorption lines. The three nuclear components account for 70% of the galaxy luminosity (SFR ∼ 16 − 18 M⊙ yr−1). The nucleus is fed by a molecular inflow observed in CO 2-1 with ALMA, which is associated with the nuclear bar. With decreasing radius (r = 450 − 225 pc), the mass inflow rate increases up to Ṁinf ∼ 20 Ṁ yr−1, which is similar to the nuclear star formation rate (SFR), indicating that the starburst is sustained by the inflow. At lower r, ∼100 − 150 pc, the inflow is best probed by the far-infrared OH ground-state doublets, with an estimated Ṁinf ∼ 30 Ṁ yr−1. The inferred short timescale of ∼20 Myr for nuclear gas replenishment indicates quick secular evolution, and indicates that we are witnessing an intermediate stage (< 100 Myr) proto-pseudobulge fed by a massive inflow that is driven by a strong nuclear bar. We also apply the H2O model to the Herschel far-infrared spectroscopic observations of H218O, OH, 18OH, OH+, H2O+, H3O+, NH, NH2, NH3, CH, CH+, 13CH+, HF, SH, and C3, and we estimate their abundances.

Intra-night optical variability of γ −ray detected narrow-line Seyfert1 galaxies

Abstract We report the first attempt to systematically characterise intra-night optical variability (INOV) of the rare and enigmatic subset of Narrow-Line Seyfert1 galaxies (NLSy1s), which is marked by detection in the γ-ray band and is therefore endowed with Doppler boosted relativistic jets, like blazars. However, the central engines in these two types of AGN are thought to operate in different regimes of accretion rate. Our INOV search in a fairly large and unbiased sample of 15 γ-ray NLSy1s was conducted in 36 monitoring sessions, each lasting ≥ 3 hrs. In our analysis, special care has been taken to address the possible effect on the differential light curves, of any variation in the seeing disc during the session, since that might lead to spurious claims of INOV from such AGN due to the possibility of a significant contribution from the host galaxy to the total optical emission. From our observations, a duty cycle (DC) of INOV detection in the γ-ray NLSy1s is estimated to be around 25% - 30%, which is comparable to that known for blazars. This estimate of DC will probably need an upward revision, once it becomes possible to correct for the dilution of the AGN’s nonthermal optical emission by the (much steadier) optical emission contributed not only by the host galaxy but also the nuclear accretion disc in these high Eddington rate accretors. Finally, we also draw attention to the possibility that sharp optical flux changes on sub-hour time scale are less rare for γ-ray NLSy1s, in comparison to blazars.

On the possible orbital motion of Sgr A* in the smooth potential of the Milky Way

The modern accuracy of measurements allows the residual/peculiar (Galactocentric) velocity of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in our Galaxy, Sgr A*, on the order of several kilometers per second. We integrate possible orbits of the SMBH along with the surrounding nuclear stellar cluster (NSC) for a barred model of the Galaxy using modern constraints on the components of the SMBH Galactocentric velocity. Is is shown that the range of oscillations of the SMBH+NSC in a regular Galactic field in the plane of the Galaxy allowed by these constraints strongly depends on the set of central components of the Galactic potential. If the central components are represented only by a bulge/bar, for a point estimate of the SMBH Galactocentric velocity, the oscillation amplitude does not exceed 7 pc in the case that a classical bulge is present and reaches 25 pc if there is no bulge; with SMBH velocity components within the 2σ significance level, the amplitude can reach 15 and 50 pc, respectively. However, when taking into account the nuclear stellar disk (NSD), even in the absence of a bulge, the oscillation amplitude is only 5 pc for the point estimate of the SMBH velocity, and 10 pc for the 2σ significance level. Thus, the possible oscillations of the SMBH + NSC complex from the confirmed components of the Galaxy’s potential are mostly limited by the NSD, and even taking into account the uncertainty of the mass of the latter, the oscillation amplitude can hardly exceed 13 pc = 6′.

Inside-out formation of nuclear discs and the absence of old central spheroids in barred galaxies of the TIMER survey

The centres of disc galaxies host a variety of structures built via both internal and external processes. In this study, we constrain the formation and evolution of these central structures, in particular, nuclear rings and nuclear discs, by deriving maps of mean stellar ages, metallicities, and [α/Fe] abundances. We use observations obtained with the MUSE integral-field spectrograph for the TIMER sample of 21 massive barred galaxies. Our results indicate that nuclear discs and nuclear rings are part of the same physical component, with nuclear rings constituting the outer edge of nuclear discs. All nuclear discs in the sample are clearly distinguished based on their stellar population properties. As expected in the picture of bar-driven secular evolution, nuclear discs are younger, more metal-rich, and exhibit lower [α/Fe] enhancements, as compared to their immediate surroundings. Moreover, nuclear discs exhibit well-defined radial gradients, with ages and metallicities decreasing, and [α/Fe] abundances increasing with radius out to the nuclear ring. Often, these gradients show no breaks from the edge of the nuclear disc up through the centre, suggesting that these structures extend to the very centres of galaxies. We argue that continuous (stellar) nuclear discs may form from a series of bar-built (initially gas-rich) nuclear rings that expand in their radius as the bar evolves. In this picture, nuclear rings are simply the (often) star-forming outer edge of nuclear discs. Finally, by combining our results with those taken from a accompanying kinematic study, we do not find evidence for the presence of large, dispersion-dominated components in the centres of these galaxies. This could be a result of quiet merger histories, despite the large galaxy masses, or, perhaps, due to high angular momentum and strong feedback processes preventing the formation of these kinematically hot components.

Kinematic signatures of nuclear discs and bar-driven secular evolution in nearby galaxies of the MUSE TIMER project

The central regions of disc galaxies hold clues to the processes that dominate their formation and evolution. To exploit this, the TIMER project has obtained high signal-to-noise and spatial resolution integral-field spectroscopy data of the inner few kpc of 21 nearby massive barred galaxies, which allows studies of the stellar kinematics in their central regions with unprecedented spatial resolution. We confirm theoretical predictions of the effects of bars on stellar kinematics and identify box/peanuts through kinematic signatures in mildly and moderately inclined galaxies, finding a lower limit to the fraction of massive barred galaxies with box/peanuts at ∼62%. Further, we provide kinematic evidence of the connection between barlenses, box/peanuts, and bars. We establish the presence of nuclear discs in 19 galaxies and show that their kinematics are characterised by near-circular orbits with low pressure support and that they are fully consistent with the bar-driven secular evolution picture for their formation. In fact, we show that these nuclear discs have, in the region where they dominate, larger rotational support than the underlying main galaxy disc. In addition, we define a kinematic radius for the nuclear discs and show that it relates to bar radius, ellipticity and strength, and bar-to-total ratio. Comparing our results with photometric studies of galaxy bulges, we find that careful, state-of-the-art galaxy image decompositions are generally able to discern nuclear discs from classical bulges if the images employed have high enough physical spatial resolution. In fact, we show that nuclear discs are typically identified in such image decompositions as photometric bulges with (near-)exponential profiles. However, we find that the presence of composite bulges (galaxies hosting both a classical bulge and a nuclear disc) can often be unnoticed in studies based on photometry alone and suggest a more stringent threshold to the Sérsic index to identify galaxies with pure classical bulges.

Cool stars in the Galactic center as seen by APOGEE

The Galactic center region, including the nuclear disk, has until recently been largely avoided in chemical census studies because of extreme extinction and stellar crowding. Large, near-IR spectroscopic surveys, such as the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), allow the measurement of metallicities in the inner region of our Galaxy. Making use of the latest APOGEE data release (DR16), we are able for the first time to study cool Asymptotic Giant branch (AGB) stars and supergiants in this region. The stellar parameters of five known AGB stars and one supergiant star (VR 5-7) show that their location is well above the tip of the red giant branch. We studied metallicities of 157 M giants situated within 150 pc of the Galactic center from observations obtained by the APOGEE survey with reliable stellar parameters from the APOGEE pipeline making use of the cool star grid down to 3200 K. Distances, interstellar extinction values, and radial velocities were checked to confirm that these stars are indeed situated in the Galactic center region. We detect a clear bimodal structure in the metallicity distribution function, with a dominant metal-rich peak of [Fe/H] ∼ +0.3 dex and a metal-poor peak around {Fe/H] = −0.5 dex, which is 0.2 dex poorer than Baade’s Window. The α-elements Mg, Si, Ca, and O show a similar trend to the Galactic bulge. The metal-poor component is enhanced in the α-elements, suggesting that this population could be associated with the classical bulge and a fast formation scenario. We find a clear signature of a rotating nuclear stellar disk and a significant fraction of high-velocity stars with vgal > 300 km s−1; the metal-rich stars show a much higher rotation velocity (∼200 km s−1) with respect to the metal-poor stars (∼140 km s−1). The chemical abundances as well as the metallicity distribution function suggest that the nuclear stellar disk and the nuclear star cluster show distinct chemical signatures and might be formed differently.

Jeans modelling of the Milky Way’s nuclear stellar disc

ABSTRACT The nuclear stellar disc (NSD) is a flattened stellar structure that dominates the gravitational potential of the Milky Way at Galactocentric radii $30 \lesssim R \lesssim 300\, {\rm pc}$. In this paper, we construct axisymmetric Jeans dynamical models of the NSD based on previous photometric studies and we fit them to line-of-sight kinematic data of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) and silicon monoxide (SiO) maser stars. We find that (i) the NSD mass is lower but consistent with the mass independently determined from photometry by Launhardt et al. Our fiducial model has a mass contained within spherical radius $r=100\, {\rm pc}$ of $M(r\lt 100\, {\rm pc}) = 3.9 \pm 1 \times 10^8 \, \rm M_\odot$ and a total mass of $M_{\rm NSD} = 6.9 \pm 2 \times 10^8 \, \rm M_\odot$. (ii) The NSD might be the first example of a vertically biased disc, i.e. with ratio between the vertical and radial velocity dispersion σz/σR > 1. Observations and theoretical models of the star-forming molecular gas in the central molecular zone suggest that large vertical oscillations may be already imprinted at stellar birth. However, the finding σz/σR > 1 depends on a drop in the velocity dispersion in the innermost few tens of parsecs, on our assumption that the NSD is axisymmetric, and that the available (extinction corrected) stellar samples broadly trace the underlying light and mass distributions, all of which need to be established by future observations and/or modelling. (iii) We provide the most accurate rotation curve to date for the innermost $500\, {\rm pc}$ of our Galaxy.

Dust Masses, Compositions, and Luminosities in the Nuclear Disks and the Diffuse Circumnuclear Medium of Arp 220

Abstract We present an analysis of the 4–2600 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the west and east nuclei and the diffuse infrared (IR) region of the merger-driven starburst Arp 220. We examine several possible source morphologies and dust temperature distributions using a mixture of silicate and carbonaceous grains. From fits to the SEDs we derive dust masses, temperatures, luminosities, and dust-inferred gas masses. We show that the west and east nuclei are powered by central sources deeply enshrouded behind cm−2 column densities of hydrogen with an exponential density distribution, and that the west and east nuclei are optically thick out to wavelengths of ∼1900 and ∼770 μm, respectively. The nature of the central sources cannot be determined from our analysis. We derive star formation rates (SFRs) or black hole masses needed to power the IR emission, and show that the [C ii] 158 μm line cannot be used as a tracer of the SFR in heavily obscured systems. Gas masses inferred from dust are larger than those inferred from CO observations, suggesting either larger dust-to-H mass ratios or the presence of hidden atomic H that cannot be inferred from CO observations. The luminosities per unit mass in the nuclei are ∼450 in solar units, smaller than the Eddington limit of ∼1000–3000 for an optically thick star-forming region, suggesting that the observed gas outflows are primarily driven by stellar winds and supernova shock waves instead of radiation pressure on the dust.

GALACTICNUCLEUS: A high angular-resolution JHKs imaging survey of the Galactic centre

Context. The characterisation of the extinction curve in the near-infrared (NIR) is fundamental to analysing the structure and stellar population of the Galactic centre (GC), whose analysis is hampered by the extreme interstellar extinction (AV ~ 30 mag) that varies on arc-second scales. Recent studies indicate that the behaviour of the extinction curve might be more complex than previously assumed, pointing towards a variation of the extinction curve as a function of wavelength. Aims. We aim to analyse the variations of the extinction index, α, with wavelength, line-of-sight, and absolute extinction, extending previous analyses to a larger area of the innermost regions of the Galaxy. Methods. We analysed the whole GALACTICNUCLEUS survey, a high-angular resolution (~0.2″) JHKs NIR survey specially designed to observe the GC in unprecedented detail. It covers a region of ~6000 pc2, comprising fields in the nuclear stellar disc, the inner bulge, and the transition region between them. We applied two independent methods based on red clump (RC) stars to constrain the extinction curve and analysed its variation superseding previous studies. Results. We used more than 165 000 RC stars and increased the size of the regions analysed significantly to confirm that the extinction curve varies with the wavelength. We estimated a difference Δα = 0.21 ± 0.07 between the obtained extinction indices, αJH = 2.44 ± 0.05 and αHKs = 2.23 ± 0.05. We also concluded that there is no significant variation of the extinction curve with wavelength, with the line-of-sight or the absolute extinction. Finally, we computed the ratios between extinctions, AJ∕AH = 1.87 ± 0.03 and AH/AKs = 1.84 ± 0.03, consistent with all the regions of the GALACTICNUCLEUS catalogue.

Arp 220: New Observational Insights into the Structure and Kinematics of the Nuclear Molecular Disks and Surrounding Gas

Abstract ALMA cycle 3 observations of 12CO J = 3 → 2, 13CO J = 4 → 3, SiO J = 8 → 7, and HCN J = 5 → 4 are presented. Significant extended emission is detected in 12CO J = 3 → 2 with a morphology that is indicative of m = 2 tidal features, suggesting gas inflow. In addition, outflows for both nuclei are found in 12CO J = 3 → 2. Significant SiO absorption is detected in the western nucleus. HCN that is morphologically distinct from CO is detected in both nuclei. These observations are compared to non-LTE radiative transfer models created using the Line Modeling Engine for simple gas dynamics to gain insight into how physical parameters, such as rotational velocity, turbulent velocity, gas temperature, dust temperature, and gas mass, can reproduce the observed kinematic and spatial features. The eastern nucleus is found to be best modeled with an inclusion of a temperature asymmetry from one side of the disk to the other. It is also found that the western nucleus is optically thick even in the less abundant species of 13CO, absorbing significant amounts of continuum radiation.

Near-infrared observations of the gas structure and kinematics in the circumnuclear region of NGC 1672

We present our near-infrared, integral-field spectroscopy observations of the central 550 × 550 pc2(10″ × 10″) of the local galaxy NGC 1672. Our aim is to investigate the morphology and kinematics of gas and stars to probe evidence for feeding and feedback phenomena. For this purpose the near-infrared wavelength regime and integral-field unit technique provide a vast amount of useful information. The narrow emission line ratios suggest that the galaxy hosts a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus. From theMBH − σ*relation, we find a black hole mass of a few 107 M⊙. The total reservoir of hot molecular and ionised gas is estimated, using flux of H2and Brγemission lines, to be 258M⊙and 2.3 × 106 M⊙respectively. The most striking feature in the emission line flux maps is the star-forming ring at a radius of ∼3″. The stellar and gaseous kinematics both show a rotation pattern in a disc that is blue-shifted in the north-west and red-shifted in the south-east. However, unlike the stellar kinematics, gas kinematics show various complexities, such as higher amplitudes in the central region (within the star-forming ring). The molecular gas velocity-field map shows deviations from pure disc motion in the form of an S-shaped zero-velocity line. In particular the position angle of the zero-velocity line changes in the central arcsecond, resembling the decoupled nuclear disc or molecular torus found in CO(3–2). There is an offset of 0.″5 between the nuclear continuum barycentre and kinematic centre of molecular gas towards the north-west. The velocity field of Brγemitting gas on the other hand, is highly red-shifted in the centre and offset from the continuum emission peak by about 1″. Investigating the spectra of this region we detect a doubled-horn Brγemission line in the nucleus and north-west. This region is also luminous in radio 3 cm emission connecting the nucleus to the star-forming ring.

Central kiloparsec of NGC 1326 observed with SINFONI

Gas inflow processes in the vicinity of galactic nuclei play a crucial role in galaxy evolution and supermassive black hole growth. Exploring the central kiloparsec of galaxies is essential to shed more light on this subject. We present near-infraredH- andK-band results of the nuclear region of the nearby galaxy NGC 1326, observed with the integral-field spectrograph SINFONI mounted on the Very Large Telescope. The field of view covers 9″ × 9″ (650 × 650 pc2). Our work is concentrated on excitation conditions, morphology, and stellar content. The nucleus of NGC 1326 was classified as a LINER, however in our data we observed an absence of ionised gas emission in the centralr ∼ 3″. We studied the morphology by analysing the distribution of ionised and molecular gas, and thereby detected an elliptically shaped, circum-nuclear star-forming ring at a mean radius of 300 pc. We estimate the starburst regions in the ring to be young with dominating ages of < 10 Myr. The molecular gas distribution also reveals an elongated east to west central structure about 3″ in radius, where gas is excited by slow or mild shock mechanisms. We calculate the ionised gas mass of 8 × 105M⊙completely concentrated in the nuclear ring and the warm molecular gas mass of 187M⊙, from which half is concentrated in the ring and the other half in the elongated central structure. The stellar velocity fields show pure rotation in the plane of the galaxy. The gas velocity fields show similar rotation in the ring, but in the central elongated H2structure they show much higher amplitudes and indications of further deviation from the stellar rotation in the central 1″ aperture. We suggest that the central 6″ elongated H2structure might be a fast-rotating central disc. The CO(3–2) emission observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array reveal a central 1″ torus. In the central 1″ of the H2velocity field and residual maps, we find indications for a further decoupled structure closer to a nuclear disc, which could be identified with the torus surrounding the supermassive black hole.