Sub-kiloparsec Scales Research Articles

LoTSS jellyfish galaxies

In this paper we report the first identification of jellyfish galaxies in the Perseus cluster (Abell 426). We identified four jellyfish galaxies (LEDA 2191078, MCG +07-07-070, UGC 2654, UGC 2665) within the central 2° ×2° (2.6 Mpc × 2.6 Mpc) of Perseus based on the presence of one-sided radio continuum tails that were detected at 144 MHz by the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR). The observed radio tails, as well as the orientation of morphological features in the rest-frame optical, are consistent with these four galaxies being impacted by ram pressure stripping as they orbit through the Perseus intracluster medium. By combining the LOFAR imaging at 144 MHz with 344 MHz imaging from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, we derived spectral indices for the disks and the stripped tails of these jellyfish galaxies. We show that the spectral indices over the galaxy disks are quite flat, while the indices of the stripped tails are substantially steeper. We also identified a number of compact Hα + [NII] sources with narrowband imaging from the Isaac Newton Telescope. These sources are brighter along the leading side of the galaxy (i.e., opposite to the direction of the stripped tail), which is consistent with ram pressure induced star formation. Lastly, consistent with previous works in other clusters, we find that these jellyfish galaxies show enhanced radio luminosities for their observed star formation rates. Given the small distance to the Perseus cluster (D ∼ 70 Mpc, 1″ ≃ 340 pc), these galaxies are excellent candidates for multiwavelength follow-up observations to probe the impact of ram pressure stripping on galaxy star formation at subkiloparsec scales.

BASS XXXI: Outflow scaling relations in low redshift X-ray AGN host galaxies with MUSE

ABSTRACT Ionized gas kinematics provide crucial evidence of the impact that active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have in regulating star formation in their host galaxies. Although the presence of outflows in AGN host galaxies has been firmly established, the calculation of outflow properties such as mass outflow rates and kinetic energy remains challenging. We present the [O iii]λ5007 ionized gas outflow properties of 22 z<0.1 X-ray AGN, derived from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey using MUSE/VLT. With an average spatial resolution of 1 arcsec (0.1–1.2 kpc), the observations resolve the ionized gas clouds down to sub-kiloparsec scales. Resolved maps show that the [O iii] velocity dispersion is, on average, higher in regions ionized by the AGN, compared to star formation. We calculate the instantaneous outflow rates in individual MUSE spaxels by constructing resolved mass outflow rate maps, incorporating variable outflow density and velocity. We compare the instantaneous values with time-averaged outflow rates by placing mock fibres and slits on the MUSE field-of-view, a method often used in the literature. The instantaneous outflow rates (0.2–275 M⊙ yr−1) tend to be two orders of magnitude higher than the time-averaged outflow rates (0.001–40 M⊙ yr−1). The outflow rates correlate with the AGN bolometric luminosity (Lbol ∼ 1042.71–1045.62 erg s−1) but we find no correlations with black hole mass (106.1–108.9 M⊙), Eddington ratio (0.002–1.1), and radio luminosity (1021–1026 W Hz−1). We find the median coupling between the kinetic energy and Lbol to be 1 per cent, consistent with the theoretical predictions for an AGN-driven outflow.

A Comparison between Nuclear Ring Star Formation in LIRGs and in Normal Galaxies with the Very Large Array

Abstract Nuclear rings are excellent laboratories for studying intense star formation. We present results from a study of nuclear star-forming rings in five nearby normal galaxies from the Star Formation in Radio Survey (SFRS) and four local LIRGs from the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey at sub-kiloparsec resolutions using Very Large Array high-frequency radio continuum observations. We find that nuclear ring star formation (NRSF) contributes 49%–60% of the total star formation of the LIRGs, compared to 7%–40% for the normal galaxies. We characterize a total of 57 individual star-forming regions in these rings, and find that with measured sizes of 10–200 pc, NRSF regions in the LIRGs have star formation rate (SFR) and ΣSFR up to 1.7 M ⊙ yr−1 and 402 M ⊙ yr−1 kpc−2, respectively, which are about 10 times higher than in NRSF regions in the normal galaxies with similar sizes, and comparable to lensed high-z star-forming regions. At ∼100–300 pc scales, we estimate low contributions (<50%) of thermal free–free emission to total radio continuum emission at 33 GHz in the NRSF regions in the LIRGs, but large variations possibly exist at smaller physical scales. Finally, using archival sub-kiloparsec resolution CO (J = 1–0) data of nuclear rings in the normal galaxies and NGC 7469 (LIRG), we find a large scatter in gas depletion times at similar molecular gas surface densities, which tentatively points to a multimodal star formation relation on sub-kiloparsec scales.

MAGNUM survey: Compact jets causing large turmoil in galaxies

Context. Outflows accelerated by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are commonly observed in the form of coherent, mildly collimated high-velocity gas directed along the AGN ionisation cones and kinetically powerful (≳1044 − 45 erg s−1) jets. Recent works found that outflows can also be accelerated by low-power (≲1044 erg s−1) jets, and the most recent cosmological simulations indicate that these are the dominant source of feedback on sub-kiloparsec scales, but little is known about their effect on the galaxy host. Aims. We study the relation between radio jets and the distribution and kinematics of the ionised gas in IC 5063, NGC 5643, NGC 1068, and NGC 1386 as part of our survey of nearby Seyfert galaxies called Measuring Active Galactic Nuclei Under MUSE Microscope (MAGNUM). All these objects host a small-scale (≲1 kpc) low-power (≲1044 erg s−1) radio jet that has small inclinations (≲45°) with respect to the galaxy disc. Methods. We employed seeing-limited optical integral field spectroscopic observations from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the Very Large Telescope to obtain flux, kinematic, and excitation maps of the extended ionised gas. We compared these maps with archival radio images and in one case, with Chandra X-ray observations. Results. We detect a strong (up to ≳800–1000 km s−1) and extended (≳1 kpc) emission-line velocity spread perpendicular to the direction of the AGN ionisation cones and jets in all four targets. The gas excitation in this region of line-width enhancement is entirely compatible with shock ionisation. These broad and symmetric line profiles are not associated with a single coherent velocity of the gas. A ‘classical’ outflow component with net blueshifted and redshifted motions is also present, but is directed along the ionisation cones and jets. Conclusions. We interpret the observed phenomenon as due to the action of the jets perturbing the gas in the galaxy disc. These intense and extended velocity spreads perpendicular to AGN jets and cones are indeed currently only observed in galaxies hosting a low-power jet whose inclination is sufficiently low with respect to the galaxy disc to impact on and strongly affect its material. In line with cosmological simulations, our results demonstrate that low-power jets are indeed capable of affecting the host galaxy.

A possible sub-kiloparsec dual AGN buried behind the galaxy curtain

Although thousands of galaxy mergers are known, only a handful of sub-kiloparsec-scale supermassive black hole (SMBH) pairs have been confirmed so far, leaving a huge gap between the observed and predicted numbers of such objects. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectrum and of near-infrared (NIR) diffraction limited imaging of SDSS J1431+4358. This object is a local radio-quiet type 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) previously selected as a double AGN candidate on the basis of the double-peaked [OIII] emission line. The NIR adaptive optics-assisted observations were obtained at the Large Binocular Telescope with the LUCI+FLAO camera. We found that most of the prominent optical emission lines are characterized by a double-peaked profile, mainly produced by AGN photoionization. Our spectroscopical analysis disfavors the hypothesis that the double-peaked emission lines in the source are the signatures of outflow kinematics, leaving open the possibility that we are detecting either the rotation of a single narrow-line region or the presence of two SMBHs orbiting around a common central potential. The latter scenario is further supported by the high-spatial resolution NIR imaging: after subtracting the dominant contribution of the stellar bulge component in the host galaxy, we detect two faint nuclear sources at r < 0.5 kpc projected separation. Interestingly, the two sources have a position angle consistent with that defined by the two regions where the [OIII] double peaks most likely originate. Aside from the discovery of a promising sub-kiloparsec scale dual AGN, our analysis shows the importance of an appropriate host galaxy subtraction in order to achieve a reliable estimate of the incidence of dual AGNs at small projected separations.

The volumetric star formation law for nearby galaxies

In the last decades, much effort has been put into finding the star formation law, which could unequivocally link the gas and the star formation rate (SFR) densities measured on a sub-kiloparsec scale in star-forming galaxies. The conventional approach of using the observed surface densities to infer star formation laws has however revealed a major and well-known issue, as such relations are valid for the high-density regions of galaxies but break down in low-density and HI-dominated environments. Recently, an empirical correlation between the total gas (HI+H2) and the SFR volume densities was obtained for a sample of nearby disc galaxies and for the Milky Way. This volumetric star formation (VSF) law is a single power-law with no break and a smaller intrinsic scatter with respect to the star formation laws based on the surface density. In this work, we explore the VSF law in the regime of dwarf galaxies in order to test its validity in HI-dominated, low-density, and low-metallicity environments. In addition, we assess this relation in the outskirts of spiral galaxies, which are low-density and HI-dominated regions similar to dwarf galaxies. Remarkably, we find that the VSF law, namelyρSFR∝ρgasαwithα ≈ 2, is valid for both these regimes. This result indicates that the VSF law, which holds unbroken for a wide range of gas (≈3 dex) and SFR (≈6 dex) volume densities, is the empirical relation with the smallest intrinsic scatter and is likely more fundamental than surface-based star formation laws.

Subkiloparsec Imaging of Lyα Emission in a Low-mass, Highly Ionized, Gravitationally Lensed Galaxy at z = 1.84∗

Abstract Low-mass, low-metallicity galaxies at low to moderate (z ≲ 3) redshifts offer the best opportunity for detailed examination of the interplay between massive stars, ionizing radiation and gas in sources similar to those that likely reionized the universe. We present new narrowband Hubble Space Telescope observations of emission and the adjacent ultraviolet (UV) continuum in the low-mass (M ⋆ = 2 × 108 ), low-metallicity (Z ∼ 1/20 Z⊙), and highly ionized gravitationally lensed galaxy SL2S J02176−0513 at z = 1.844. The galaxy has strong emission with photometric equivalent width , at odds with the escape fraction of 10%. However, the spectroscopic profile suggests the presence of broad absorption underlying the emission, and the total equivalent width is consistent with the escape fraction once this underlying absorption is included. The emission is more spatially extended than the UV continuum, and the 0.″14 spatial resolution of HST coupled with the magnification of gravitational lensing enables us to examine the distribution of and the UV continuum on subkiloparsec scales. We find that the peaks of the emission and the UV continuum are offset by 650 pc, and there is no emission arising from the region with the strongest UV light. Our combined spectroscopic and imaging data imply a significant range in neutral hydrogen column density across the object. These observations offer indirect support for a model in which ionizing radiation escapes from galaxies through channels with low column density of neutral gas.

The ALMA Discovery of the Rotating Disk and Fast Outflow of Cold Molecular Gas in NGC 1275

Abstract We present observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array of the CO(2−1), HCN(3−2), and HCO+(3−2) lines in the nearby radio galaxy/brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) NGC 1275 with a spatial resolution of ∼20 pc. In previous observations, the CO(2−1) emission was detected as radial filaments lying in the east–west direction on a kiloparsec scale. We resolved the inner filament and found that it cannot be represented by a simple infalling stream on a sub-kiloparsec scale. The observed complex nature of the filament resembles the cold gas structure predicted by numerical simulations of cold chaotic accretion. Within the central 100 pc, we detected a rotational disk of molecular gas whose mass is ∼108 M ⊙. This is the first evidence of the presence of a massive cold gas disk on this spatial scale for BCGs. A crude estimate suggests that the accretion rate of the cold gas can be higher than that of hot gas. The disk rotation axis is approximately consistent with the radio-jet axis. This probably suggests that the cold gas disk is physically connected to the innermost accretion disk, which is responsible for jet launching. We also detected absorption features in the HCN(3−2) and HCO+(3−2) spectra against the radio continuum emission mostly radiated by a jet of size ∼1.2 pc. The absorption features are blueshifted from the systemic velocity by ∼300–600 km s−1, suggesting the presence of outflowing gas from the active galactic nucleus (AGN). We discuss the relation of the AGN feeding with cold accretion, the origin of blueshifted absorption, and an estimate of the black hole mass using molecular gas dynamics.

Resolved scaling relations and metallicity gradients on sub-kiloparsec scales at z ≈ 1

ABSTRACT The existence of a spatially resolved star-forming main sequence (rSFMS) and a spatially resolved mass–metallicity relation (rMZR) is now well established for local galaxies. Moreover, gradients with metallicity decreasing with radius seem to be common in local disc galaxies. These observations suggest that galaxy formation is a self-regulating process, and provide constraints for galaxy evolution models. Studying the evolution of these relations at higher redshifts is still, however, very challenging. In this paper, we analyse three gravitationally lensed galaxies at z = 0.6, 0.7, and 1, observed with MUSE and SINFONI. These galaxies are highly magnified by galaxy clusters, which allow us to observe resolved scaling relations and metallicity gradients on physical scales of a couple of hundred parsecs, comparable to studies of local galaxies. We confirm that the rSFMS is already in place at these redshifts on sub-kpc scales, and establish, for the first time, the existence of the rMZR at higher redshifts. We develop a forward-modelling approach to fit 2D metallicity gradients of multiply imaged lensed galaxies in the image plane, and derive gradients of −0.027 ± 0.003, −0.019 ± 0.003, and −0.039 ± 0.060 dex kpc−1. Despite the fact that these are clumpy galaxies, typical of high-redshift discs, the metallicity variations in the galaxies are well described by global linear gradients, and we do not see any difference in metallicity associated with the star-forming clumps.

Spatially Resolved Interstellar Medium and Highly Excited Dense Molecular Gas in the Most Luminous Quasar at z = 6.327

Abstract Among more than 200 quasars known at z ≳ 6, only one object, J0100+2802 (z = 6.327), was found hosting a >1010 M ⊙ supermassive black hole. In order to investigate the host galaxy properties of J0100+2802, we performed multi-band ALMA observations, aiming at mapping the dust continuum, [C ii] and CO(6–5) emission lines with subkiloparsec scale resolution, as well as detecting high-J CO lines in CO(11–10), CO(10–9), and CO(7–6). The galaxy size is measured to be R major = 3.6 ± 0.2 kpc from the high-resolution continuum observations. No ordered motion on kiloparsec scales was found in either the [C ii] or the CO(6–5) emission. The velocity dispersion is measured to be 161 ± 7 km s−1, which is about three times smaller than that estimated from the local M–σ relation. In addition, we found that the CO emission is more concentrated (a factor of 1.8 ± 0.4) than the [C ii] emission. Together with CO(2–1) detected by the Very Large Array (VLA), we measured the CO spectral line energy distribution, which is best fit by a two-component model that includes a cool component at ∼24 K with a density of cm−3, and a warm component at ∼224 K with a density of cm−3. We also fit the dust continuum with a graybody model. This indicated that the continuum has either a high dust emissivity β ≳ 2 or a hot dust temperature T dust ≳ 60 K, or a combination of these two factors. The highly excited CO emission and hot dust temperature suggest that the powerful active galactic nucleus in J0100+2802 could contribute to the gas and dust heating, but future observations are needed to confirm this.

Molecular gas and dust emission in a z = 3.63 strongly lensed starburst merger at sub-kiloparsec scales

AbstractWe present 0.″2–0.″4 resolution ALMA images of the submillimeter dust continuum and the CO, H2O, and H2O+ line emission in a z = 3.63 strongly lensed dusty starburst. We construct the lens model for the system with an MCMC technique. While the average magnification for the dust continuum is about 11, the magnification of the line emission varies from 5 to 22 across the source, resolving the source down to sub-kpc scales. The ISM content reveals that it is a pre-coalescence major merger of two ultra-luminous infrared galaxies, both with a large amount of molecular gas reservoir. The approaching galaxy in the south shows no apparent kinematic structure with a half-light radius of 0.4 kpc, while the preceding one resembles a 1.2 kpc rotating disk, separated by a projected distance of 1.3 kpc. The distribution of dust and gas emission suggests a large amount of cold ISM concentrated in the interacting region.

CO, H2O, H2O+ line and dust emission in a z = 3.63 strongly lensed starburst merger at sub-kiloparsec scales

Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), we report high angular-resolution observations of the redshift z = 3.63 galaxy H-ATLAS J083051.0+013224 (G09v1.97), one of the most luminous strongly lensed galaxies discovered by the Herschel-Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS). We present 0.″2−0.″4 resolution images of the rest-frame 188 and 419 μm dust continuum and the CO(6–5), H2O(211−202), and Jup = 2 H2O+ line emission. We also report the detection of H2O(211−202) in this source. The dust continuum and molecular gas emission are resolved into a nearly complete ∼1.″5 diameter Einstein ring plus a weaker image in the center, which is caused by a special dual deflector lensing configuration. The observed line profiles of the CO(6–5), H2O(211−202), and Jup = 2 H2O+ lines are strikingly similar. In the source plane, we reconstruct the dust continuum images and the spectral cubes of the CO, H2O, and H2O+ line emission at sub-kiloparsec scales. The reconstructed dust emission in the source plane is dominated by a compact disk with an effective radius of 0.7 ± 0.1 kpc plus an overlapping extended disk with a radius twice as large. While the average magnification for the dust continuum is μ ∼ 10−11, the magnification of the line emission varies from 5 to 22 across different velocity components. The line emission of CO(6–5), H2O(211−202), and H2O+ have similar spatial and kinematic distributions. The molecular gas and dust content reveal that G09v1.97 is a gas-rich major merger in its pre-coalescence phase, with a total molecular gas mass of ∼1011 M⊙. Both of the merging companions are intrinsically ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with infrared luminosities LIR reaching ≳4 × 1012 L⊙, and the total LIR of G09v1.97 is (1.4 ± 0.7)×1013 L⊙. The approaching southern galaxy (dominating from V = −400 to −150 km s−1 relative to the systemic velocity) shows no obvious kinematic structure with a semi-major half-light radius of as = 0.4 kpc, while the receding galaxy (0 to 350 km s−1) resembles an as = 1.2 kpc rotating disk. The two galaxies are separated by a projected distance of 1.3 kpc, bridged by weak line emission (−150 to 0 km s−1) that is co-spatially located with the cold dust emission peak, suggesting a large amount of cold interstellar medium (ISM) in the interacting region. As one of the most luminous star-forming dusty high-redshift galaxies, G09v1.97 is an exceptional source for understanding the ISM in gas-rich starbursting major merging systems at high redshift.

SDSS-IV MaNGA: Inside-out versus Outside-in Quenching of Galaxies in Different Local Environments

Abstract The large Integral Field Spectroscopy surveys have allowed the classification of ionizing sources of emission lines on sub-kiloparsec scales. In this work, we define two non-parametric parameters, quiescence (F q ) and its concentration (C q ), to quantify the strength and the spatial distribution of the quenched areas, respectively, traced by the LI(N)ER regions with low EW(Hα). With these two measurements, we classify MaNGA galaxies into inside-out and outside-in quenching types according to their locations on the F q versus C q plane and we measure the fraction of inside-out (outside-in) quenching galaxies as a function of halo mass. We find that the fraction of galaxies showing inside-out quenching increases with halo mass, irrespective of stellar mass or galaxy type (satellites versus centrals). In addition, high-stellar-mass galaxies exhibit a greater fraction of inside-out quenching compared to low-stellar-mass ones in all environments. In contrast, the fraction of outside-in quenching does not depend on halo mass. Our results suggest that morphological quenching may be responsible for the inside-out quenching seen in all environments. On the other hand, the flat dependence of the outside-in quenching on halo mass could be a mixed result of ram pressure stripping and galaxy mergers. Nevertheless, for a given environment and stellar mass, the fraction of inside-out quenching is systematically greater than that of outside-in quenching, suggesting that inside-out quenching is the dominant quenching mode in all environments.

Circumnuclear Star Formation and AGN Activity: Clues from Surface Brightness Radial Profile of PAHs and [ S IV

Abstract We studied the circumnuclear mid-IR emission in a sample of 19 local active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with high spatial resolution spectra using T-ReCS (Gemini) and CanariCam (GTC), together with Spitzer/IRS observations. We measured the flux and the equivalent width for the 11.3 μm PAH feature and the [S iv] line emission as a function of galactocentric distance. This allowed us to study the star formation (SF) at subkiloparsec scales from the nucleus for a large sample of nearby AGNs. The [S iv] line emission could be tracing the AGN radiation field within a few thousand times the sublimation radius (R sub), but it often peaks at distances greater than 1000 R sub. One possibility is that the SF is contributing to the [S iv] total flux. We found an 11.3 μm PAH emission deficit within the inner few tens of parsecs from the AGN. This deficit might be due to the destruction of the molecules responsible for this feature or the lack of SF at these distances. We found a sensible agreement in the expected shift of the relation of the AGN bolometric luminosity and the SF rate. This indicates that numerical models attributing the link between AGN activity and host galaxy growth to mergers are in agreement with our data, for most inner galaxy parts.

Testing star formation laws in a starburst galaxy at redshift 3 resolved with ALMA

Using high-resolution (sub-kiloparsec scale) submillimeter data obtained by ALMA, we analyze the star formation rate (SFR), gas content and kinematics in SDP 81, a gravitationally-lensed star-forming galaxy at redshift 3. We estimate the SFR surface density ($\Sigma_{\mathrm{SFR}}$) in the brightest clump of this galaxy to be $357^{+135}_{-85}\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}\,kpc^{-2}}$, over an area of $0.07\pm0.02\,\mathrm{kpc}^2$. Using the intensity-weighted velocity of CO$\,$(5-4), we measure the turbulent velocity dispersion in the plane-of-the-sky and find $\sigma_{\mathrm{v,turb}} = 37\pm5\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}$ for the star-forming clump, in good agreement with previous estimates along the line of sight. Our measurements of gas surface density, freefall time and turbulent Mach number reveal that the role of turbulence is vital to explaining the observed SFR in this clump. While the Kennicutt Schmidt (KS) relation predicts a SFR surface density of $\Sigma_{\mathrm{SFR,KS}} = 52\pm17\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}\,kpc^{-2}}$, the single-freefall model by Krumholz, Dekel and McKee (KDM) predicts $\Sigma_{\mathrm{SFR,KDM}} = 106\pm37\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}\,kpc^{-2}}$. In contrast, the multi-freefall (turbulence) model by Salim, Federrath and Kewley (SFK) gives $\Sigma_{\mathrm{SFR,SFK}} = 491^{+139}_{-194}\,\mathrm{M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}\,kpc^{-2}}$. Although the SFK relation overestimates the SFR in this clump (possibly due to the ignorance of magnetic field), it provides the best prediction among the available models. Finally, we compare the star formation and gas properties of this high-redshift galaxy to local star-forming regions and find that the SFK relation provides the best estimates of SFR in both local and high-redshift galaxies.

Kinematics, turbulence, and star formation of z ∼ 1 strongly lensed galaxies seen with MUSE

We analyse a sample of 8 highly magnified galaxies at redshift 0.6<z<1.5 observed with MUSE, exploring the resolved properties of these galaxies at sub-kiloparsec scales. Combining multi-band HST photometry and MUSE spectra, we derive the stellar mass, global star formation rates, extinction and metallicity from multiple nebular lines, concluding that our sample is representative of z~1 star-forming galaxies. We derive the 2D kinematics of these galaxies from the [OII] emission and model it with a new method that accounts for lensing effects and fits multiple images simultaneously. We use these models to calculate the 2D beam-smearing correction and derive intrinsic velocity dispersion maps. We find them to be fairly homogeneous, with relatively constant velocity dispersions between 15 - 80 km/s and Gini coefficient of <0.3. We do not find any evidence for higher (or lower) velocity dispersions at the positions of bright star-forming clumps. We derive resolved maps of dust attenuation and attenuation-corrected star formation rates from emission lines for two objects in the sample. We use this information to study the relation between resolved star formation rate and velocity dispersion. We find that these quantities are not correlated, and the high-velocity dispersions found for relatively low star-forming densities seems to indicate that, at sub-kiloparsec scales, turbulence in high-z discs is mainly dominated by gravitational instability rather than stellar feedback.

Does the Compact Radio Jet in PG 1700+518 Drive a Molecular Outflow?

Abstract Radio jets play an important role in quasar feedback, but direct observations showing how the jets interact with the multi-phase interstellar medium of galaxy disks are few and far between. In this work, we provide new millimeter interferometric observations of PG 1700+518 in order to investigate the effect of its radio jet on the surrounding molecular gas. PG 1700 is a radio-quiet, low-ionization broad absorption line quasar whose host galaxy has a nearby interacting companion. On subkiloparsec scales, the ionized gas is driven to high velocities by a compact radio jet that is identified by radio interferometry. We present observations from the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer with a 3.″8 (16 kpc) synthesized beam where we detect the emission line at significance with a total flux of 3.12 ± 0.02 Jy km s−1 and a typical velocity dispersion of 125 ± 5 km s−1. Despite the outflow in ionized gas, we find no concrete evidence that the CO gas is being affected by the radio jet on size scales of a kiloparsec or more. However, a ∼1″ drift in the spatial centroid of the CO emission as a function of velocity across the emission line and the compact nature of the jet hint that higher spatial resolution observations may reveal a signal of interaction between the jet and molecular gas.

The Intrinsic Far-infrared Continua of Type-1 Quasars

Abstract The range of currently proposed active galactic nucleus (AGN) far-infrared templates results in uncertainties in retrieving host galaxy information from infrared observations and also undermines constraints on the outer part of the AGN torus. We discuss how to test and reconcile these templates. Physically, the fraction of the intrinsic AGN IR-processed luminosity compared with that from the central engine should be consistent with the dust-covering factor. In addition, besides reproducing the composite spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of quasars, a correct AGN IR template combined with an accurate library of star-forming galaxy templates should be able to reproduce the IR properties of the host galaxies, such as the luminosity-dependent SED shapes and aromatic feature strengths. We develop tests based on these expected behaviors and find that the shape of the AGN intrinsic far-IR emission drops off rapidly starting at ∼20 μm and can be matched by an Elvis et al.-like template with a minor modification. Despite the variations in the near- to mid-IR bands, AGNs in quasars and Seyfert galaxies have remarkably similar intrinsic far-IR SEDs at λ ∼ 20–100 μm, suggesting a similar emission character of the outermost region of the circumnuclear torus. The variations of the intrinsic AGN IR SEDs among the type-1 quasar population can be explained by the changing relative strengths of four major dust components with similar characteristic temperatures, and there is evidence for compact AGN-heated dusty structures at sub-kiloparsec scales in the far-IR.

Molecular Outflows in Local ULIRGs: Energetics from Multitransition OH Analysis

Abstract We report on the energetics of molecular outflows in 14 local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) that show unambiguous outflow signatures (P Cygni profiles or high-velocity absorption wings) in the far-infrared lines of OH measured with the Herschel/PACS spectrometer. All sample galaxies are gas-rich mergers at various stages of the merging process. Detection of both ground-state (at 119 and 79 μm) and one or more radiatively excited (at 65 and 84 μm) lines allows us to model the nuclear gas (≲300 pc) and the more extended components using spherically symmetric radiative transfer models. Reliable models and the corresponding energetics are found in 12 of the 14 sources. The highest molecular outflow velocities are found in buried sources, in which slower but massive expansion of the nuclear gas is also observed. With the exception of a few outliers, the outflows have momentum fluxes of (2–5) × L IR/c and mechanical luminosities of (0.1–0.3)% of L IR. The moderate momentum boosts in these sources (≲3) suggest that the outflows are mostly momentum driven by the combined effects of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and nuclear starbursts, as a result of radiation pressure, winds, and supernova remnants. In some sources (∼20%), however, powerful (1010.5–11 L ⊙) AGN feedback and (partially) energy-conserving phases are required, with momentum boosts in the range of 3–20. These outflows appear to be stochastic, strong AGN feedback events that occur throughout the merging process. In a few sources, the outflow activity in the innermost regions has subsided in the past ∼1 Myr. While OH traces the molecular outflows at subkiloparsec scales, comparison of the masses traced by OH with those previously inferred from tracers of more extended outflowing gas suggests that most mass is loaded (with loading factors of ) from the central galactic cores (a few × 100 pc), qualitatively consistent with an ongoing inside-out quenching of star formation. Outflow depletion timescales are &lt;108 yr, shorter than the gas consumption timescales by factors of 1.1–15, and are anticorrelated with the AGN luminosity.

IROCKS: SPATIALLY RESOLVED KINEMATICS OF z ∼ 1 STAR-FORMING GALAXIES

ABSTRACT We present results from the Intermediate Redshift OSIRIS Chemo-Kinematic Survey (IROCKS) for sixteen z ∼ 1 and one z ∼ 1.4 star-forming galaxies. All galaxies were observed with OSIRIS with the laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory. We use rest-frame nebular Hα emission lines to trace morphologies and kinematics of ionized gas in star-forming galaxies on sub-kiloparsec physical scales. We observe elevated velocity dispersions (σ ≳ 50 km s−1) seen in z &gt; 1.5 galaxies persist at z ∼ 1 in the integrated galaxies. Using an inclined disk model and the ratio of , we find that 1/3 of the z ∼ 1 sample are disk candidates while the other 2/3 of the sample are dominated by merger-like and irregular sources. We find that including extra attenuation toward H ii regions derived from stellar population synthesis modeling brings star formation rates (SFRs) using Hα and stellar population fit into a better agreement. We explore the properties of the compact Hα sub-component, or “clump,” at z ∼ 1 and find that they follow a similar size–luminosity relation as local H ii regions but are scaled-up by an order of magnitude with higher luminosities and sizes. Comparing the z ∼ 1 clumps to other high-redshift clump studies, we determine that the clump SFR surface density evolves as a function of redshift. This suggests clump formation is directly related to the gas fraction in these systems and may support disk fragmentation as their formation mechanism since gas fraction scales with redshift.