Nuclear Radio Source Research Articles

High-sensitivity Observations of the H2O Megamasers of NGC 1068: Precise Astrometry and Detailed Kinematics

We present High Sensitivity Array observations of the H2O megamasers of NGC 1068. We obtain absolute astrometry with 0.3 mas precision that confirms the association of the disk masers with the nuclear radio continuum source S1. The new observations reveal two new blueshifted groups of disk masers. We also detect the 22 GHz continuum on short interferometric baselines. The position–velocity diagram of the disk masers shows a curve consistent with a nonaxisymmetric distribution of maser spots. This curve is probably the result of spiral arms with a constant pitch angle ∼5°. The disk kinematics are consistent with Keplerian rotation and low turbulent speeds. The inferred central mass is 17 × 106 M ☉. On the basis of disk stability arguments, the mass of the molecular disk is ≈110 × 103 M ☉. The disk masers further resolve into filamentary structures suggesting an ordered magnetic field threading the maser disk. The magnetic field strengths must be ≳2 mG to withstand turbulent motions in the partially ionized molecular gas. We note apparent asymmetries in the molecular disk that might be explained by anisotropic heating by a misaligned inner accretion disk. The new observations also detect the fainter jet masers north of the disk masers. The distribution and kinematics of the jet masers are consistent with an expanding ring of molecular gas.

High-sensitivity VLBI observations of water masers in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068

Abstract We present observational results of water vapor maser emission with our high-sensitivity 22 GHz very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068. In this galaxy, there are the following four nuclear radio sources; NE, C, S1, and S2. Among them, the S1 component has been identified as the nucleus while the C component has been considered as attributed to the radio jet. In our VLBI observation, we find the following two types of water maser emission at the S1 component. One is a linearly aligned component that is considered as an edge-on disk with an inner radius of 0.62 pc. The dynamical mass enclosed within the inner radius was estimated to be 1.5 × 107 M⊙ by assuming the circular Keplerian motion. Note, however, that the best-fitting rotation curve shows a sub-Keplerian rotation (v ∝ r−0.24±0.10). The other is water maser emission distributed around the rotating disk component up to 1.5 pc from the S1 component, suggesting a bipolar outflow from the S1 component. Further, we detected water maser emission in the C component for the first time with VLBI, and discovered a ring-like distribution of water maser emission. It is known that a molecular cloud is associated with the C component (both HCN and HCO+ emission lines are detected by ALMA). Therefore, the ring-like maser emission can be explained by the jet collision to the molecular cloud. However, if these ring-like water masing clouds constitute a rotating ring around the C component, it is likely that the C component also has a supermassive black hole with a mass of ∼106 M⊙ that could be supplied from a past minor merger of a nucleated satellite galaxy.

A compact symmetric ejection from the low mass AGN in the LINER galaxy NGC 4293

ABSTRACT We conducted a Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observation of the low mass active galactic nucleus (AGN) in galaxy NGC 4293 (z = 0.003). The object is associated with a low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER). Its black hole mass is estimated as ∼105 or ${\sim}10^7 \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. The VLBA 1.5 GHz image shows an inverse symmetric structure with two discrete radio blobs separated by an angular distance of ∼120 mas, corresponding to ∼7 parsec. Furthermore, its integrated radio spectrum has a turnover at the frequency of ∼0.44 GHz. Based on the compactness and spectrum, the nuclear radio source in NGC 4293 belongs to a sample of (megahertz) peaked spectrum (PS/MPS) radio sources with compact symmetric morphologies. NGC 4293 has 1.4 GHz radio power of only ${\sim}10^{20}\, \mathrm{W\, Hz^{-1}}$ with the VLBA observation, which is consistent with local AGNs but lower than the current PS samples. One of the two blobs has a steep radio spectrum α = −0.62 ± 0.08 (Sν ∝ ν+α), while the other one has an inverted spectrum α = 0.32 ± 0.10. The VLBA 1.5 GHz luminosity ratio of the two blobs is 3.23 and both blobs show lateral-flowing structures where the hotspots reside at the edge of each radio lobe. This can be explained as jet interactions with dense circumnuclear medium. We estimate the black hole mass of NGC 4293 through the Fundamental Plane of black hole activity, which constrains the black hole mass to be ${\lesssim}10^6\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. It supports that the object is a low-mass AGN and a potential candidate for accreting and ejecting IMBHs.

Resolving the Nuclear Radio Emission from M32 with the Very Large Array

Abstract The Local Group dwarf elliptical galaxy M32 hosts one of the nearest and most under-luminous supermassive black holes (SMBHs) ever known, offering a rare opportunity to study the physics of accreting SMBHs at the most quiescent state. Recent Very Large Array (VLA) observations detected a radio source at the nucleus of M32, which was suggested to be the radio counterpart of the SMBH. To further investigate the radio properties of this nuclear source, we have conducted follow-up, high-resolution VLA observations in four epochs between 2015 and 2017, each with dual frequencies. At 6 GHz, the nuclear source is resolved under an angular resolution of ∼0.″4, exhibiting a coreless, slightly lopsided morphology with a detectable extent of ∼2.″5 (∼10 pc). No significant variability can be found among the four epochs. At 15 GHz, no significant emission can be detected within the same region, pointing to a steep intrinsic radio spectrum (with a 3σ upper limit of −1.46 for the spectral index). We discuss possible scenarios for the nature of this nuclear radio source and conclude that a stellar origin, in particular, planetary nebulae, X-ray binaries, supernova remnants, or diffuse ionized gas powered by massive stars, can be ruled out. Instead, the observed radio properties can be explained by synchrotron radiation from a hypothetical wind driven by the weakly accreting SMBH.

Discovery of five low-luminosity active galactic nuclei at the centre of the Perseus cluster

According to optical stellar kinematics observations, an over-massive black hole candidate has been reported by van den Bosch et al. (2012) in the normal early-type galaxy NGC 1277. This galaxy is located in the central region of the Perseus cluster. Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) observations have shown that NGC 1277 and other early-type galaxies in the neighbourhood have radio counterparts. These nuclear radio sources have stable flux densities on time scale of years. In order to investigate the origin of the radio emission from these normal galaxies, we selected five sources (NGC 1270, NGC 1272, NGC 1277, NGC 1278 and VZw 339) residing in the central 10 arcminute region of the Perseus cluster and requested to re-correlate the data of an existing very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment at these new positions. With the re-correlation data provided by the European VLBI Network (EVN), we imaged the five sources with a resolution of about eight milliarcseconds and detected all of them with a confidence level above 5{\sigma} at 1.4 GHz. They show compact structure and brightness temperatures above $10^7$ K, which implies that the radio emission is non-thermal. We rule out ongoing nuclear star formation and conclude that these VLBI-detected radio sources are parsec-scale jet activity associated with the supermassive black holes in low luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs), although there are no clear signs of nuclear activity observed in the optical and infrared bands. Using the fundamental plane relation in black holes, we find no significant evidence for or against an extremely massive black hole hiding in NGC 1277.

DEEP CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF THE COMPACT STARBURST GALAXY HENIZE 2–10: X-RAYS FROM THE MASSIVE BLACK HOLE

ABSTRACT We present follow-up X-ray observations of the candidate massive black hole (BH) in the nucleus of the low-mass, compact starburst galaxy Henize 2–10. Using new high-resolution observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory totaling 200 ks in duration, as well as archival Chandra observations from 2001, we demonstrate the presence of a previously unidentified X-ray point source that is spatially coincident with the known nuclear radio source in Henize 2–10 (i.e., the massive BH). We show that the hard X-ray emission previously identified in the 2001 observation is dominated by a source that is distinct from the nucleus, with the properties expected for a high-mass X-ray binary. The X-ray luminosity of the nuclear source suggests the massive BH is radiating significantly below its Eddington limit (∼10 ), and the soft spectrum resembles other weakly accreting massive BHs including Sagittarius A*. Analysis of the X-ray light curve of the nucleus reveals the tentative detection of a ∼9 hr periodicity, although additional observations are required to confirm this result. Our study highlights the need for sensitive high-resolution X-ray observations to probe low-level accretion, which is the dominant mode of BH activity throughout the universe.

HIGH-VELOCITY BIPOLAR MOLECULAR EMISSION FROM AN AGN TORUS

ABSTRACT We have detected in ALMA observations CO emission from the nucleus of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068. The low-velocity (up to ±70 km s−1 relative to systemic) CO emission resolves into a 12 × 7 pc structure, roughly aligned with the nuclear radio source. Higher-velocity emission (up to ±400 km s−1) is consistent with a bipolar outflow in a direction nearly perpendicular (≃80°) to the nuclear disk. The position–velocity diagram shows that in addition to the outflow, the velocity field may also contain rotation about the disk axis. These observations provide compelling evidence in support of the disk-wind scenario for the active galactic nucleus obscuring torus.

FRB 150418: clues to its nature from European VLBI Network and e-MERLIN observations

We investigate the nature of the compact, and possibly variable nuclear radio source in the centre of WISE J0716-19, the proposed host galaxy of fast radio burst, FRB 150418. We observed WISE J0716-19 at 5.0 GHz with the European VLBI Network four times between 2016 March 16 and June 2. At three epochs, we simultaneously observed the source with e-MERLIN at the same frequency. We detected a compact source in the EVN data in each epoch with a significance up to ~8sigma. The four epochs yielded consistent results within their uncertainties, for both peak surface intensity and positions. The mean values for these quantities are I_peak = (115+-9) {\mu}Jy/beam and r.a. = 07:16:34.55496(7), dec. = -19:00:39.4754(8), respectively. The e-MERLIN data provided ~3-5sigma detections, at a position consistent with those of the EVN data. The presence of emission on angular scales intermediate between the EVN and e-MERLIN is consistent with being null. The brightness temperature of the EVN core is Tb~10^8.5K, close to the value required by Akiyama & Johnson (2016) to explain the radio properties of WISE J0716-19 in terms of interstellar induced short-term variability. Our observations provide direct, independent evidence of the existence of a nuclear compact source in WISE J0716-19, a physical scenario with no evident connection with FRB 150418. However, the EVN data do not show indication of the variability observed with the VLA.

The atlas3DProject – XXXI. Nuclear radio emission in nearby early-type galaxies

We present the results of a high-resolution, 5 GHz, Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array study of the nuclear radio emission in a representative subset of the Atlas3D survey of early-type galaxies (ETGs). We find that 51 +/- 4% of the ETGs in our sample contain nuclear radio emission with luminosities as low as 10^18 W/Hz. Most of the nuclear radio sources have compact (< 25-110 pc) morphologies, although < 10% display multi-component core+jet or extended jet/lobe structures. Based on the radio continuum properties, as well as optical emission line diagnostics and the nuclear X-ray properties, we conclude that the majority of the central 5 GHz sources detected in the Atlas3D galaxies are associated with the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, even at sub-arcsecond spatial resolution, the nuclear radio emission in some cases appears to arise from low-level nuclear star formation rather than an AGN, particularly when molecular gas and a young central stellar population is present. This is in contrast to popular assumptions in the literature that the presence of a compact, unresolved, nuclear radio continuum source universally signifies the presence of an AGN. Additionally, we examine the relationships between the 5 GHz luminosity and various galaxy properties including the molecular gas mass and - for the first time - the global kinematic state. We discuss implications for the growth, triggering, and fueling of radio AGNs, as well as AGN-driven feedback in the continued evolution of nearby ETGs.

The Herschel Fornax Cluster Survey – I. The bright galaxy sample

We present Herschel observations of the Fornax cluster at 100, 160, 250, 350 and 500u with a spatial resolution of 7 - 36 arc sec (10" = 1 kpc at d_Fornax=17.9 Mpc). We define a sample of 11 bright galaxies, selected at 500u, directly comparable with our past work on Virgo. We find good agreement with previous observations made by IRAS and Planck. The FIR luminosity density is higher (factor of three) in Fornax compared to Virgo. The 100u (42.5-122.5u) luminosity is two orders of magnitude larger in Fornax than in the local field as measured by IRAS. Using stellar (L_{0.4-2.5}) and FIR (L_{100-500}) luminosities we estimate a mean optical depth of tau=0.4+/-0.1 - the same value as Virgo. For 10 of the 11 galaxies (NGC1399 excepted) we fit a modified blackbody curve (beta=2.0) to the SEDs to derive dust masses and temperatures of 10^{6.54-8.35} M_0 and T=14.6-24.2K respectively, comparable to Virgo. The derived stars-to-gas(atomic) and gas(atomic)-to-dust ratios vary from 1.1-67.6 and 9.8-436.5 respectively, again consistent with Virgo. Fornax is a mass overdensity in stars and dust of about 120 compared to the local field (30 for Virgo). Fornax and Virgo are both a factor of 6 lower over densities in gas(atomic) than in stars and dust indicating loss of gas, but not dust and stars, in the cluster environment. As the brightest FIR source in either Fornax and Virgo, NGC1365 is detected by Planck. The Planck data fit the PACS/SPIRE SED out to 1382u with no evidence of other sources of emission ('spinning dust', free-free, synchrotron). At the opposite end of the scale NGC1399 is detected only at 500$\mu$m with the emission probably arising from the nuclear radio source rather than inter-stellar dust.

EXAMINING THE RADIO-LOUD/RADIO-QUIET DICHOTOMY WITH NEWCHANDRAAND VLA OBSERVATIONS OF 13 UGC GALAXIES

(Abridged) We present the results from new 15 ks Chandra-ACIS and 4.9 GHz Very Large Array observations of 13 galaxies hosting low luminosity AGN. This completes the multiwavelength study of a sample of 51 nearby early-type galaxies described in Capetti & Balmaverde (2005, 2006); Balmaverde & Capetti (2006). The aim of the three previous papers was to explore the connection between the host galaxies and AGN activity in a radio-selected sample. We detect nuclear X-ray emission in eight sources and radio emission in all but one (viz., UGC6985). The new VLA observations improve the spatial resolution by a factor of ten: the presence of nuclear radio sources in 12 of the 13 galaxies confirms their AGN nature. As previously indicated, the behavior of the X-ray and radio emission in these sources depends strongly on the form of their optical surface brightness profiles derived from Hubble Space Telescope imaging, i.e., on their classification as "core", "power-law" or "intermediate" galaxies. With more than twice the number of "power-law" and "intermediate" galaxies compared to previous work, we confirm with a much higher statistical significance that these galaxies lie well above the radio-X-ray correlation established in FRI radio galaxies and the low-luminosity "core" galaxies. This result highlights the fact that the "radio-loud/radio-quiet" dichotomy is a function of the host galaxy's optical surface brightness profile. We present radio-optical-X-ray spectral indices for all 51 sample galaxies. Survival statistics point to significant differences in the radio-to-optical and radio-to-X-ray spectral indices between the "core" and "power-law" galaxies (Gehan's Generalized Wilcoxon test probability "p" for the two classes being statistically similar is <10^-5), but not in the optical-to-X-ray spectral indices (p=0.25).

VLBA OBSERVATIONS OF SUB-PARSEC STRUCTURE IN Mrk 231: INTERACTION BETWEEN A RELATIVISTIC JET AND A BAL WIND

We report on the first high-frequency very long baseline interferometry observations of the nearby broad absorption line quasar, Mrk 231. Three epochs of observations were achieved at 15 GHz and 22 GHz, two of these included 43 GHz observations as well. The nuclear radio source is resolved as a compact double. The core component experienced a strong flare in which the flux density at 22 GHz increased by >150% (45 mJy) in three months. Theoretical models of the flare imply that the emission is likely enhanced by very strong Doppler boosting of a highly relativistic ejecta with a kinetic energy flux, Q ∼ 3 × 1043 erg s−1. Combining our data with two previous epochs of 15 GHz data shows marginal evidence for the slow advance of the secondary component (located ≈0.97 pc from the core) over a 9.4 year span. We estimate that the long-term time averaged kinetic energy flux of the secondary at . Low-frequency very long baseline array observations indicate that the secondary is seen through a shroud of free–free absorbing gas with an emission measure of ≈108 cm−6. The steep spectrum secondary component appears to be a compact radio lobe that is associated with a working surface between the ram pressure confined jet and a dense medium that is likely to be the source of the free–free absorption. The properties of the dense gas are consistent with the temperatures, displacement from the nucleus, and the column density of total hydrogen commonly associated with the BAL wind.

6.7 GHz methanol absorption toward the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3079

The detection of the 6.7 GHz line of methanol (CH3OH) is reported for the first time toward an object beyond the Magellanic Clouds. Using the Effelsberg 100 m telescope, two absorption features were identified toward the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3079. Both components probably originated on lines-of-sight toward the central region, presumably absorbing the radio continuum of the nuclear sources A, B, and E of NGC 3079. One absorption feature, at the systemic velocity, is narrow and may arise from gas not related to the nuclear environment of the galaxy. The weaker blue-shifted component is wider and may trace outflowing gas. Total A-type CH3OH column densities are estimated to be between a few times 10 13 and a few times 10 15 cm −2 . Because of a highly frequencydependent continuum background, the overall similarity of Hi, OH, and CH3OH absorption profiles hints at molecular clouds that cover the entire area occupied by the nuclear radio continuum sources (∼ 4p c).

Low-Luminosity Extragalactic Water Masers toward M82, M51, and NGC 4051

Subarcsecond observations using the Very Large Array (VLA) are presented for low-luminosity H2O maser emission in M82, M51, and NGC 4051. New maser features have been detected within the M82 starburst complex. They are largely associated with star-forming activity such as optically identified starburst-driven winds, H II regions, or the early phase of star formation in the galaxy. The H2O maser in M51 consists of blueshifted and redshifted features relative to the systemic velocity of the galaxy. The redshifted features are measured to the northwest of the nuclear radio source, while the location of the blueshifted counterpart is displaced by ~2'' from the radio source. A small velocity gradient closely aligned with the radio jet is detected from the redshifted features. The redshifted maser most likely amplifies the background radio continuum jet, while the blueshifted counterpart marks off-nuclear star formation in the galaxy. All of the detected maser features in the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 remain unresolved by new VLA observations. Due to the low luminosity of the maser, the maser excitation is not directly related to the active galactic nucleus.

On the Anomalous Temperature Distribution of the Intergalactic Medium in the NGC 3411 Group of Galaxies

We present XMM-Newton, Chandra, and VLA observations of the USGC S152 group and its central elliptical NGC 3411. Imaging of the group X-ray halo suggests that it is relaxed with little apparent structure. We investigate the temperature and metal abundance structure of the group halo and find that while the abundance distribution is fairly typical, the temperature profile is highly unusual, showing a hot inner core surrounded by a cool shell of gas with a radius of ~20-40 kpc, at the center of the larger group halo. Spectral mapping confirms an irregular ring of gas ~0.15 keV cooler than its surroundings. We estimate the total mass, entropy, and cooling time profiles within ~200 kpc, and find that the cool shell contains ~9 × 109 M☉ of gas. VLA observations at 1.4, 5, and 8 GHz reveal a relatively weak nuclear radio source, with a core radio luminosity LR = 2.7 × 1038 ergs s-1 and a diffuse component extended on scales of a few arcseconds (or more). A lack of evidence for activity at optical or X-ray wavelengths supports the conclusion that the central black hole is currently in a quiescent state. We discuss possible mechanisms for the formation of temperature features observed in the halo, including a previous period of AGN activity, and settling of material stripped from the halo of one of the other group member galaxies.

Radio linear and circular polarization from M 81*

We present results from archival Very Large Array (VLA) data and new VLA observations to investigate the long term behavior of the circular polarization of M81*, the nuclear radio source in the nearby galaxy M81. We also used the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) array to observe M81* at 86 and 230 GHz. M81* is unpolarized in the linear sense at a frequency as high as 86 GHz and shows variable circular polarization at a frequency as high as 15 GHz. The spectrum of the fractional circular polarization is inverted in most of our observations. The sign of circular polarization is co nstant over frequency and time. The absence of linear polarization sets a lower limit to the accretion rate of 10 −7 M⊙y −1 . The polarization properties are strikingly similar to the properties of Sgr A *, the central radio source in the Milky Way. This supports the hypothesis that M81* is a scaled up version of Sgr A*. On the other hand, the broad band total intensity spectrum declines towards milimeter wavelengths which differs from previous observations of M81* and also from Sgr A*.

Radio Linear and Circular Polarization from M81*

We present results from archival Very Large Array (VLA) data and new VLA observations to investigate the long term behavior of the circular polarization of M81*, the nuclear radio source in the nearby galaxy M81. We also used the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) array to observe M81* at 86 and 230 GHz. M81* is unpolarized in the linear sense at a frequency as high as 86 GHz and shows variable circular polarization at a frequency as high as 15 GHz. The spectrum of the fractional circular polarization is inverted in most of our observations. The sign of circular polarization is constant over frequency and time. The absence of linear polarization sets a lower limit to the accretion rate of 10−7 M⊙y−1. The polarization properties are strikingly similar to the properties of Sgr A*, the central radio source in the Milky Way. This supports the hypothesis that M81* is a scaled up version of Sgr A*. On the other hand, the broad band total intensity spectrum declines towards milimeter wavelengths which differs from previous observations of M81* and also from Sgr A*.

CO in the Bipolar Radio Continuum Galaxy NGC 3367

CO(1–0) emission has been imaged at 2'' resolution in the central 10 kpc of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3367. This galaxy has bipolar synchrotron lobes out to a radius of 6 kpc, straddling the compact nucleus. The peak molecular emission is in a source of radius 2'' (425 pc) centered on the galaxy nucleus. The molecular gas mass is ~3 × 108 M⊙ in this peak and ~5.9 × 108 M⊙ within a radius of 45 (950 pc). The very large gas masses in the central source imply extinctions sufficiently high to completely obscure optical emission lines (e.g., broad-line region) associated with the nuclear radio source. The observed Balmer lines probably originate in the narrow-line region a few hundred parsecs from the nucleus. The CO emission in the central region is elongated northeast-southwest, very similar to the position angle of the large-scale synchrotron lobes. This elongation is likely due to the nonaxisymmetric gravitational potential of the stellar bar. We infer that the northeast radio continuum lobe is on the far side of the galaxy and the southwest lobe is on the near side. The central mass of molecular gas is of sufficient mass to power the active galactic nucleus accretion luminosity for over 108 yr at 3 M⊙ yr-1.

The Parsec‐Scale Radio Structure of NGC 1068 and the Nature of the Nuclear Radio Source

We present sensitive, multifrequency Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) images of the nuclear radio sources of NGC 1068. At 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz, the radio continuum source S1, argued to mark the location of the hidden active nucleus, resolves into an elongated, ~ 0.8 pc source oriented nearly at right angles to the radio jet axis but more closely aligned to the distribution of the nuclear H2O maser spots. S1 is detected at 5 GHz but not at 1.4 GHz, indicating strong free-free absorption below 5 GHz, and it has a flat spectrum between 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz. A 5/8.4 GHz spectral index map reveals an unresolved, inverted spectrum source at the center of the S1 structure which may mark the AGN proper. The average brightness temperature is too low for synchrotron self-absorption to impact the integrated spectrum significantly. In addition, a careful registration with the nuclear H2O masers argues that the S1 continuum source arises from the inner regions of the maser disk rather than a radio jet. The emission mechanism may be direct, thermal free-free emission from an X-ray-heated corona or wind arising from the molecular disk. We demonstrate that the hidden active nucleus is sufficiently luminous, to within the current estimates, to provide the requisite heating.

VLBI imaging of OH absorption: the puzzle of the nuclear region of NGC 3079

Broad hydroxyl (OH) absorption lines in the 1667- and 1665-MHz transitions towards the central region of NGC 3079 have been observed at high resolution with the European VLBI Network (EVN). Velocity fields of two OH absorption components have been resolved across the unresolved nuclear radio continuum source of extention similar to10 pc. The velocity field of the OH absorption close to the systemic velocity shows rotation in nearly the same sense as that of the edge-on galactic-scale molecular disc probed by CO(1-0) emission. The velocity field of the blueshifted OH absorption displays a gradient in almost the opposite direction. The blueshifted velocity field represents a non-rotational component, which may trace an outflow from the nucleus, or material driven and shocked by the kiloparsec-scale superbubble. This OH absorption component traces a structure that does not support a counter-rotating disc suggested on the basis of the neutral hydrogen absorption.