• Ghost in the Shell: Evidence for Past AGN Activities in NGC 5195 from a Newly Discovered large-scale Ionized Structure

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The early-type galaxy NGC 5195 (alternatively known as M51b) possesses extended gas features detected in multi-wavelength, postulated to be associated with previous activities of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH). Using integral field spectroscopic observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT)/SITELLE, we report on the discovery of a new large-scale ionized gas structure traced by [O III], [N II], and H$\alpha$ line emission, extending to $\sim10\rm\,kpc$ from the nucleus of NGC 5195. Its bipolar morphology, emission line ratio diagnostics, and comparison with the X-ray image from Chandra and low-frequency radio data from LOFAR all indicate that it is likely an outflow inflated by a past episode of elevated active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. Assuming the ionized gas is outflowing from the central region of NGC 5195, the estimated mass and energy outflow rates are $\dot{M}_{\rm out} = 3.5-27.9 \rm\, M_{\odot}\, yr^{-1}$ and $\dot{E}_{\rm out} = 0.98-7.9\times10^{40}\rm\, erg\, s^{-1}$, respectively, which cannot be provided by current star formation and the low luminosity nucleus. Alternatively, considering the history of gravitational interaction between the M51 pair and the presence of HI tidal tail, the northern large-scale ionized gas could very likely be associated with tidally stripped material illuminated by a luminous AGN in the past.

  • Spatially Resolved Ionized Outflows Extending to $\sim$2 kpc in Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 7469 Revealed by VLT/MUSE

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 possesses a prominent nuclear starburst ring and a luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). Evidence of an outflow in the innermost nuclear region has been found in previous works. We detect the ionized gas outflow on a larger scale in the galaxy using the archival VLT/MUSE and {\em Chandra} observations. The optical emission lines are modeled using two Gaussian components, and a non-parametric approach is applied to measure the kinematics of [O III] and $\rm H\alpha$ emitting gas. Line ratio diagnostics and spatially resolved maps are derived to examine the origin of the outflow. The kpc-scale kinematics of [O III] is dominated by a blueshifted component whereas velocity map of $\rm H\alpha$ shows a rotational disk with complex non-rotational substructure. The starburst wind around the circumnuclear ring is confirmed, and we find evidence of an AGN-driven outflow extending to a radial distance of $\rm \sim2$ kpc from the nucleus, with a morphology consistent with a nearly face-on ionization cone. The previously reported circumnuclear outflow resembles part of the bright base. We derive mass and energy outflow rates for both the starburst wind and the AGN-driven outflow. The estimated kinetic coupling efficiency of the kpc-scale AGN outflow is $\dot{E}_{\rm out}/L_{\rm bol}\sim 0.1\%$, lower than the threshold predicted by the ``two-stage'' theoretical model for effective feedback. Our results reinforce the importance of spatially resolved study to disentangle feedback where AGN and starburst coexist, which may be common during the cosmic noon of black hole and galaxy growth.

  • Revisit the Circumnuclear X-ray Emission of NGC 2992 in a Historically Low State

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The inner-most region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992 has long been suspected to be the location of intense AGN-host galaxy interaction, but photon pile-up in previous high-resolution observations hampered the study of soft X-ray excess and the interaction near its nucleus. We present an X-ray imaging spectroscopic analysis of the circumnuclear ($1^{\prime\prime}$--$3^{\prime\prime}$) region of NGC 2992 using the zeroth-order image of a 135 ks grating observation obtained with Chandra, which captured the nucleus in a historically low flux state. Extended soft X-ray emission is detected in the circumnuclear region with observed luminosity $L_{\rm X} \sim 7 \times 10^{39}\rm\ erg\ s^{-1}$. The majority of previously puzzling detection of soft excess could be associated with the outflow, indicated by the morphological correspondences between soft X-ray emission and figure-eight-shaped radio bubbles. An anomalous narrow emission line with the centroid energy $\sim4.97$ keV is found. If attributed to redshifted highly ionized iron emission (e.g., Fe xxv), the required outflow velocity is $\sim0.23\,c$. An alternative explanation is that this line emission could be produced by the nuclear spallation of iron. We also find asymmetric extended Fe K$\alpha$ emission along the galactic disk, which could originate from reflection by cold gas on $\sim 200$ pc scale.

  • Revisit the Circumnuclear X-ray Emission of NGC 2992 in a Historically Low State

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The inner-most region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992 has long been suspected to be the location of intense AGN-host galaxy interaction, but photon pile-up in previous high-resolution observations hampered the study of soft X-ray excess and the interaction near its nucleus. We present an X-ray imaging spectroscopic analysis of the circumnuclear ($1^{\prime\prime}$--$3^{\prime\prime}$) region of NGC 2992 using the zeroth-order image of a 135 ks grating observation obtained with Chandra, which captured the nucleus in a historically low flux state. Extended soft X-ray emission is detected in the circumnuclear region with observed luminosity $L_{\rm X} \sim 7 \times 10^{39}\rm\ erg\ s^{-1}$. The majority of previously puzzling detection of soft excess could be associated with the outflow, indicated by the morphological correspondences between soft X-ray emission and figure-eight-shaped radio bubbles. An anomalous narrow emission line with the centroid energy $\sim4.97$ keV is found. If attributed to redshifted highly ionized iron emission (e.g., Fe xxv), the required outflow velocity is $\sim0.23\,c$. An alternative explanation is that this line emission could be produced by the nuclear spallation of iron. We also find asymmetric extended Fe K$\alpha$ emission along the galactic disk, which could originate from reflection by cold gas on $\sim 200$ pc scale.

  • Ghost in the Shell: Evidence for Past AGN Activities in NGC 5195 from a Newly Discovered large-scale Ionized Structure

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The early-type galaxy NGC 5195 (alternatively known as M51b) possesses extended gas features detected in multi-wavelength, postulated to be associated with previous activities of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH). Using integral field spectroscopic observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT)/SITELLE, we report on the discovery of a new large-scale ionized gas structure traced by [O III], [N II], and H$\alpha$ line emission, extending to $\sim10\rm\,kpc$ from the nucleus of NGC 5195. Its bipolar morphology, emission line ratio diagnostics, and comparison with the X-ray image from Chandra and low-frequency radio data from LOFAR all indicate that it is likely an outflow inflated by a past episode of elevated active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. Assuming the ionized gas is outflowing from the central region of NGC 5195, the estimated mass and energy outflow rates are $\dot{M}_{\rm out} = 3.5-27.9 \rm\, M_{\odot}\, yr^{-1}$ and $\dot{E}_{\rm out} = 0.98-7.9\times10^{40}\rm\, erg\, s^{-1}$, respectively, which cannot be provided by current star formation and the low luminosity nucleus. Alternatively, considering the history of gravitational interaction between the M51 pair and the presence of HI tidal tail, the northern large-scale ionized gas could very likely be associated with tidally stripped material illuminated by a luminous AGN in the past.

  • Fast Outflowing Warm Absorbers in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy PG 1001+054 Revealed by HST/COS Spectra

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxies are an important type of active galactic nucleus (AGN), generally expected to be accreting at high Eddington rate. The properties of their outflows and importance of AGN feedback remain intriguing. We report on the discovery of fast outflowing warm absorbers (WAs) in the NLS1 PG 1001+054, with velocities in the range of 7000 to 9000 kilometers per second. They are identified with blueshifted Lyman alpha, N v and Si iv lines in the high resolution ultraviolet (UV) spectra taken with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We perform photoionization modeling using XSTAR with three WAs. The derived physical properties are typical of WAs in terms of ionization and column density, whereas the outflow velocities are significantly higher. The estimated location of these WAs ranges from 1 to 73 parsecs away from the AGN. Together with previous detection of high ionization absorber in the X-ray for PG 1001+054, we suggest that the fast outflowing UV absorber is probably a part of a multiphase outflow. Such structure is likely produced by the outflow launched from AGN at accretion disk scale, which shocks the ambient ISM producing stratified absorbers. Assuming contribution from the three WAs at tens of parsecs, the estimated ratio between the kinetic power of the outflow and AGN Eddington luminosity could reach 1.7 percent, raising the possibility of sufficient influence on the host galaxy when compared to some theoretical models for efficient AGN feedback.

  • Fast Outflowing Warm Absorbers in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy PG 1001+054 Revealed by HST/COS Spectra

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxies are an important type of active galactic nucleus (AGN), generally expected to be accreting at high Eddington rate. The properties of their outflows and importance of AGN feedback remain intriguing. We report on the discovery of fast outflowing warm absorbers (WAs) in the NLS1 PG 1001+054, with velocities in the range of 7000 to 9000 kilometers per second. They are identified with blueshifted Lyman alpha, N v and Si iv lines in the high resolution ultraviolet (UV) spectra taken with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We perform photoionization modeling using XSTAR with three WAs. The derived physical properties are typical of WAs in terms of ionization and column density, whereas the outflow velocities are significantly higher. The estimated location of these WAs ranges from 1 to 73 parsecs away from the AGN. Together with previous detection of high ionization absorber in the X-ray for PG 1001+054, we suggest that the fast outflowing UV absorber is probably a part of a multiphase outflow. Such structure is likely produced by the outflow launched from AGN at accretion disk scale, which shocks the ambient ISM producing stratified absorbers. Assuming contribution from the three WAs at tens of parsecs, the estimated ratio between the kinetic power of the outflow and AGN Eddington luminosity could reach 1.7 percent, raising the possibility of sufficient influence on the host galaxy when compared to some theoretical models for efficient AGN feedback.

  • Faint AGNs Favor Unexpectedly Long Inter-band Time Lags

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Inconsistent conclusions are obtained from recent active galactic nuclei (AGNs) accretion disk inter-band time-lag measurements. While some works show that the measured time lags are significantly larger (by a factor of $\sim 3$) than the theoretical predictions of the Shakura \& Sunyaev disk (SSD) model, others find that the time-lag measurements are consistent with (or only slightly larger than) that of the SSD model. These conflicting observational results might be symptoms of our poor understanding of AGN accretion physics. Here we show that sources with larger-than-expected time lags tend to be less-luminous AGNs. Such a dependence is unexpected if the inter-band time lags are attributed to the light-travel-time delay of the illuminating variable X-ray photons to the static SSD. If, instead, the measured inter-band lags are related not only to the static SSD but also to the outer broad emission-line regions (BLRs; e.g., the blended broad emission lines and/or diffuse continua), our result indicates that the contribution of the non-disk BLR to the observed UV/optical continuum decreases with increasing luminosity ($L$), i.e., an anti-correlation resembling the well-known Baldwin effect. Alternatively, we argue that the observed dependence might be a result of coherent disk thermal fluctuations as the relevant thermal timescale, $\tau_{\mathrm{TH}}\propto L^{0.5}$. With future accurate measurements of inter-band time lags, the above two scenarios can be distinguished by inspecting the dependence of inter-band time lags upon either the BLR components in the variable spectra or the timescales.