Identifying the extent of AGN outflows using spatially resolved gas kinematics

We present spatially resolved kinematics of ionized gas in the narrow-line region (NLR) and extended narrow-line region (ENLR) in a sample of nearby active galaxies. Utilizing long-slit spectroscopy from Apache Point Observatory (APO)13s ARC 3.5 m Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) we analyzed the strong λ5007 Å [O III] emission line profiles and mapped the radial velocity distribution of gas at increasing radii from the center. We identified the extents of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) driven outflows in our sample and determined the distances at which the observed gas kinematics is being dominated by the rotation of the host galaxy. We also measured the effectiveness of radiative driving of the ionized gas using mass distribution profiles calculated with two-dimensional modeling of surface brightness profiles in our targets. Finally, we compared our kinematic results of the outflow sizes with the maximum distances at which the gas is being radiatively driven to investigate whether these outflows are capable of disrupting or evacuating the star-forming gas at these distances.

X-ray observations of luminous dusty quasars at z > 2

ABSTRACT We present new X-ray observations of luminous heavily dust-reddened quasars (HRQs) selected from infrared (IR) sky surveys. HRQs appear to be a dominant population at high redshifts and the highest luminosities, and may be associated with a transitional ‘blowout’ phase of black hole and galaxy co-evolution models. Despite this, their high-energy properties have been poorly known. We use the overall sample of 10 objects with XMM–Newton coverage to study the high-energy properties of HRQs at $\langle$Lbol$\rangle$ =1047.5 erg s−1 and $\langle$z$\rangle$ =2.5. For seven sources with strong X-ray detections, we perform spectral analyses. These find a median X-ray luminosity of $\left\langle L_{\rm 2\!-\!10\, keV} \right\rangle = 10^{45.1}$ erg s−1, comparable to the most powerful X-ray quasars known. The gas column densities are NH = (1–8) × 1022 cm−2, in agreement with the amount of dust extinction observed. The dust-to-gas ratios are sub-Galactic, but are higher than found in local AGN. The intrinsic X-ray luminosities of HRQs are weak compared to the mid-IR ($L_{\rm 6\, \mu m}$) and bolometric luminosities (Lbol), in agreement with findings for other luminous quasar samples. For instance, the X-ray to bolometric corrections range from κbol ≈ 50 to 3000. The moderate absorption levels and accretion rates close to the Eddington limit ($\langle$λEdd$\rangle$ =1.06) are in agreement with a quasar blowout phase. Indeed, we find that the HRQs lie in the forbidden region of the NH–λEdd plane, and therefore that radiation pressure feedback on the dusty interstellar medium may be driving a phase of blowout that has been ongoing for a few 105 yr. The wider properties, including [O iii] narrow-line region kinematics, broadly agree with this interpretation.

Mapping the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy 1H 0323342+

Taking advantage of the most recent measurements by means of high-resolution radio observations and other multiwavelength campaigns, it is possible to elaborate a detailed map of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 Galaxy 1H 0323 + 342 . This map will open the possibility of intriguing hypotheses about the generation of high-energy γ rays in the narrow-line region.

The Close AGN Reference Survey (CARS)

The [C II]λ158 μm line is one of the strongest far-infrared (FIR) lines and an important coolant in the interstellar medium of galaxies that is accessible out to high redshifts. The excitation of [C II] is complex and can best be studied in detail at low redshifts. Here we report the discovery of the highest global [C II] excess with respect to the FIR luminosity in the nearby AGN host galaxy HE 1353−1917. This galaxy is exceptional among a sample of five targets because the AGN ionization cone and radio jet directly intercept the cold galactic disk. As a consequence, a massive multiphase gas outflow on kiloparsec scales is embedded in an extended narrow-line region. Because HE 1353−1917 is distinguished by these special properties from our four bright AGN, we propose that a global [C II] excess in AGN host galaxies could be a direct signature of a multiphase AGN-driven outflow with a high mass-loading factor.

Detection of a double-peaked H α component from the accretion disc of NGC 4958

Active Galactic Nuclei are objects associated with the presence of an accretion disc around supermassive black holes found in the very central region of galaxies with a well-defined bulge. In the optical range of the spectrum, a possible signature of the accretion disc is the presence of a broad double-peaked component that is mostly seen in H α. In this paper, we report the detection of a double-peaked feature in the H α line in the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 4958. The narrow-line region of this object has an emission that is typical of a low-ionization nuclear emission-line region galaxy, which is the usual classification for double-peaked emitters. A central broad component, related to the broad-line region of this object, is seen in H α and also in H β. We concluded that the double-peaked emission is emitted by a circular relativistic Keplerian disc with an inner radius ξi = 570 ± 83, an outer radius ξo = 860 ± 170 (both in units of GMSMBH/c2), an inclination to the line of sight i = 27.2 ± 0.7° and a local broadening parameter σ = 1310 ± 70 km s−1.