| 1. |
- Aalto, Susanne, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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The hidden heart of the luminous infrared galaxy IC 860: I. A molecular inflow feeding opaque, extreme nuclear activity
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 627
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-resolution (0.'03-0.'09 (9-26 pc)) ALMA (100-350 GHz (λ3 to 0.8 mm)) and (0.'04 (11 pc)) VLA 45 GHz measurements have been used to image continuum and spectral line emission from the inner (100 pc) region of the nearby infrared luminous galaxy IC 860. We detect compact (r ∼ 10 pc), luminous, 3 to 0.8 mm continuum emission in the core of IC 860, with brightness temperatures TB > 160 K. The 45 GHz continuum is equally compact but significantly fainter in flux. We suggest that the 3 to 0.8 mm continuum emerges from hot dust with radius r ∼ 8 pc and temperature Td ∼ 280 K, and that it is opaque at millimetre wavelengths, implying a very large H2 column density N(H2)≥ 1026 cm-2. Vibrationally excited lines of HCN v2 = 1f J = 4 - 3 and 3-2 (HCN-VIB) are seen in emission and spatially resolved on scales of 40-50 pc. The line-to-continuum ratio drops towards the inner r = 4 pc, resulting in a ring-like morphology. This may be due to high opacities and matching HCN-VIB excitation- and continuum temperatures. The HCN-VIB emission reveals a north-south nuclear velocity gradient with projected rotation velocities of v = 100 km s-1 at r = 10 pc. The brightest emission is oriented perpendicular to the velocity gradient, with a peak HCN-VIB 3-2 TB of 115 K (above the continuum). Vibrational ground-state lines of HCN 3-2 and 4-3, HC15N 4-3, HCO+ 3-2 and 4-3, and CS 7-6 show complex line absorption and emission features towards the dusty nucleus. Redshifted, reversed P-Cygni profiles are seen for HCN and HCO+ consistent with gas inflow with vin ≤ 50 km s-1. Foreground absorption structures outline the flow, and can be traced from the north-east into the nucleus. In contrast, CS 7-6 has blueshifted line profiles with line wings extending out to -180 km s-1. We suggest that a dense and slow outflow is hidden behind a foreground layer of obscuring, inflowing gas. The centre of IC 860 is in a phase of rapid evolution where an inflow is building up a massive nuclear column density of gas and dust that feeds star formation and/or AGN activity. The slow, dense outflow may be signaling the onset of feedback. The inner, r = 10 pc, IR luminosity may be powered by an AGN or a compact starburst, which then would likely require a top-heavy initial mass function.
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| 2. |
- Falstad, Niklas, 1987, et al.
(författare)
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CON-quest: Searching for the most obscured galaxy nuclei
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 649
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 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- A nd 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- A nd 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.
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| 3. |
- Falstad, Niklas, 1987, et al.
(författare)
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Hidden or missing outflows in highly obscured galaxy nuclei?
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 623
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding the nuclear growth and feedback processes in galaxies requires investigating their often obscured central regions. One way to do this is to use (sub)millimeter line emission from vibrationally excited HCN (HCN-vib), which is thought to trace warm and highly enshrouded galaxy nuclei. It has been suggested that the most intense HCN-vib emission from a galaxy is connected to a phase of nuclear growth that occurs before the nuclear feedback processes have been fully developed. Aims. We aim to investigate if there is a connection between the presence of strong HCN-vib emission and the development of feedback in (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs). Methods. We collected literature and archival data to compare the luminosities of rotational lines of HCN-vib, normalized to the total infrared luminosity, to the median velocities of 119 μm OH absorption lines, potentially indicating outflows, in a total of 17 (U)LIRGs. Results. The most HCN-vib luminous systems all lack signatures of significant molecular outflows in the far-infrared OH absorption lines. However, at least some of the systems with bright HCN-vib emission have fast and collimated outflows that can be seen in spectral lines at longer wavelengths, including in millimeter emission lines of CO and HCN (in its vibrational ground state) and in radio absorption lines of OH. Conclusions. We conclude that the galaxy nuclei with the highest L HCN-vib /L IR do not drive wide-angle outflows that are detectable using the median velocities of far-infrared OH absorption lines. This is possibly because of an orientation effect in which sources oriented in such a way that their outflows are not along our line of sight also radiate a smaller proportion of their infrared luminosity in our direction. It could also be that massive wide-angle outflows destroy the deeply embedded regions responsible for bright HCN-vib emission, so that the two phenomena cannot coexist. This would strengthen the idea that vibrationally excited HCN traces a heavily obscured stage of evolution before nuclear feedback mechanisms are fully developed.
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| 4. |
- Nishimura, Y., et al.
(författare)
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CON-quest: II. Spatially and spectrally resolved HCN/HCO + line ratios in local luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies
- 2024
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 686
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Nuclear regions of ultraluminous and luminous infrared galaxies (U/LIRGs) are powered by starbursts and/or active galactic nuclei (AGNs). These regions are often obscured by extremely high columns of gas and dust. Molecular lines in the submillimeter windows have the potential to determine the physical conditions of these compact obscured nuclei (CONs). Aims. We aim to reveal the distributions of HCN and HCO+ emission in local U/LIRGs and investigate whether and how they are related to galaxy properties. Methods. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), we have conducted sensitive observations of the HCN J = 3-2 and HCO+J = 3-2 lines toward 23 U/LIRGs in the local Universe (z < 0.07) with a spatial resolution of ~0.3″ ( ~50-400 pc). Results. We detected both HCN and HCO+ in 21 galaxies, only HCN in one galaxy, and neither in one galaxy. The global HCN/HCO+ line ratios, averaged over scales of ~0.5-4 kpc, range from 0.4 to 2.3, with an unweighted mean of 1.1. These line ratios appear to have no systematic trend with bolometric AGN luminosity or star formation rate. The line ratio varies with position and velocity within each galaxy, with an average interquartile range of 0.38 on a spaxel-by-spaxel basis. In eight out of ten galaxies known to have outflows and/or inflows, we found spatially and kinematically symmetric structures of high line ratios. These structures appear as a collimated bicone in two galaxies and as a thin spherical shell in six galaxies. Conclusions. Non-LTE analysis suggests that the high HCN/HCO+ line ratio in outflows is predominantly influenced by the abundance ratio. Chemical model calculations indicate that the enhancement of HCN abundance in outflows is likely due to high-temperature chemistry triggered by shock heating. These results imply that the HCN/HCO+ line ratio can aid in identifying the outflow geometry when the shock velocity of the outflows is sufficiently high to heat the gas.
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| 5. |
- Buiten, Victorine A., et al.
(författare)
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GOALS-JWST: Mid-infrared Molecular Gas Excitation Probes the Local Conditions of Nuclear Star Clusters and the Active Galactic Nucleus in the LIRG VV 114
- 2024
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 966:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The enormous increase in mid-IR sensitivity and spatial and spectral resolution provided by the JWST spectrographs enables, for the first time, detailed extragalactic studies of molecular vibrational bands. This opens an entirely new window for the study of the molecular interstellar medium in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs). We present a detailed analysis of rovibrational bands of gas-phase CO, H2O, C2H2, and HCN toward the heavily obscured eastern nucleus of the LIRG VV 114, as observed by NIRSpec and the medium resolution spectrograph on the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI MRS). Spectra extracted from apertures of 130 pc in radius show a clear dichotomy between the obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) and two intense starburst regions. We detect the 2.3 μm CO bandheads, characteristic of cool stellar atmospheres, in the star-forming regions, but not toward the AGN. Surprisingly, at 4.7 μm, we find highly excited CO (T ex ≈ 700-800 K out to at least rotational level J = 27) toward the star-forming regions, but only cooler gas (T ex ≈ 200 K) toward the AGN. We conclude that only mid-infrared pumping through the rovibrational lines can account for the equilibrium conditions found for CO and H2O in the deeply embedded starbursts. Here, the CO bands probe regions with an intense local radiation field inside dusty young massive star clusters or near the most massive young stars. The lack of high-excitation molecular gas toward the AGN is attributed to geometric dilution of the intense radiation from the bright point source. An overview of the relevant excitation and radiative transfer physics is provided in an appendix.
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| 6. |
- Falstad, Niklas, 1987, et al.
(författare)
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Hidden molecular outflow in the LIRG Zw 049.057
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 609
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Feedback in the form of mass outflows driven by star formation or active galactic nuclei is a key component of galaxy evolution. The luminous infrared galaxy Zw 049.057 harbours a compact obscured nucleus with a possible far-infrared signature of outflowing molecular gas. Due to the high optical depths at far-infrared wavelengths, however, the interpretation of the outflow signature is uncertain. At millimeter and radio wavelengths, the radiation is better able to penetrate the large columns of gas and dust responsible for the obscuration. Aims. We aim to investigate the molecular gas distribution and kinematics in the nucleus of Zw 049.057 in order to confirm and locate the molecular outflow, with the ultimate goal to understand how the nuclear activity affects the host galaxy. Methods. We used high angular resolution observations from the Submillimeter Array (SMA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to image the CO J = 2-1 and J = 6-5 emission, the 690 GHz continuum, the radio centimeter continuum, and absorptions by rotationally excited OH. Results. The CO line profiles exhibit wings extending ~ 300 km s -1 beyond the systemic velocity. At centimeter wavelengths, we find a compact (~ 40 pc) continuum component in the nucleus, with weaker emission extending several 100 pc approximately along the major and minor axes of the galaxy. In the OH absorption lines toward the compact continuum, wings extending to a similar velocity as for the CO are only seen on the blue side of the profile. The weak centimeter continuum emission along the minor axis is aligned with a highly collimated, jet-like dust feature previously seen in near-infrared images of the galaxy. Comparison of the apparent optical depths in the OH lines indicate that the excitation conditions in Zw 049.057 differ from those within other OH megamaser galaxies. Conclusions. We interpret the wings in the spectral lines as signatures of a nuclear molecular outflow. A relation between this outflow and the minor axis radio feature is possible, although further studies are required to investigate this possible association and understand the connection between the outflow and the nuclear activity. Finally, we suggest that the differing OH excitation conditions are further evidence that Zw 049.057 is in a transition phase between megamaser and kilomaser activity.
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| 7. |
- Privon, G., et al.
(författare)
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The Dense Molecular Gas and Nuclear Activity in the ULIRG IRAS 13120-5453
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 835:2, s. Article Number: 213-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 7 (?340 GHz) observations of the dense gas tracers HCN, HCO+, and CS in the local, single-nucleus, ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 13120-5453. We find centrally enhanced HCN (4-3) emission, relative to HCO+ (4-3), but do not find evidence for radiative pumping of HCN. Considering the size of the starburst (0.5 kpc) and the estimated supernovae rate of ?1.2 yr-1, the high HCN/HCO+ ratio can be explained by an enhanced HCN abundance as a result of mechanical heating by the supernovae, though the active galactic nucleus and winds may also contribute additional mechanical heating. The starburst size implies a high ?IR of 4.7 × 1012 L? kpc-2, slightly below predictions of radiation-pressure limited starbursts. The HCN line profile has low-level wings, which we tentatively interpret as evidence for outflowing dense molecular gas. However, the dense molecular outflow seen in the HCN line wings is unlikely to escape the Galaxy and is destined to return to the nucleus and fuel future star formation. We also present modeling of Herschel observations of the H2O lines and find a nuclear dust temperature of ?40 K. IRAS 13120-5453 has a lower dust temperature and ?IR than is inferred for the systems termed "compact obscured nuclei (CONs)" (such as Arp 220 and Mrk 231). If IRAS 13120-5453 has undergone a CON phase, we are likely witnessing it at a time when the feedback has already inflated the nuclear ISM and diluted star formation in the starburst/active galactic nucleus core.
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| 8. |
- Ricci, C., et al.
(författare)
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A hard X-ray view of luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies in GOALS - I. AGN obscuration along the merger sequence
- 2021
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Ingår i: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 506:4, s. 5935-5950
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The merger of two or more galaxies can enhance the inflow of material from galactic scales into the close environments of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), obscuring and feeding the supermassive black hole (SMBH). Both recent simulations and observations of AGN in mergers have confirmed that mergers are related to strong nuclear obscuration. However, it is still unclear how AGN obscuration evolves in the last phases of the merger process. We study a sample of 60 luminous and ultra-luminous IR galaxies (U/LIRGs) from the GOALS sample observed by NuSTAR. We find that the fraction of AGNs that are Compton thick (CT;N-H >= 10(24)cm(-2) ) peaks at at a late merger stage, prior to coalescence, when the nuclei have projected separations (d(sep)) of 0.4-6 kpc. A similar peak is also observed in the median N-H [[(1.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(24) cm(-2)].]. The vast majority (85(-9)(+7) per cent)) of the AGNs in the final merger stages (d(sep) less than or similar to 10 kpc) are heavily obscured (N-H = 10(23) cm(-2)), and the median N-H of the accreting SMBHs in our sample is systematically higher than that of local hard X-ray-selected AGN, regardless of the merger stage. This implies that these objects have very obscured nuclear environments, with the gas almost completely covering the AGN in late mergers. CT AGNs tend to have systematically higher absorption-corrected X-ray luminosities than less obscured sources. This could either be due to an evolutionary effect, with more obscured sources accreting more rapidly because they have more gas available in their surroundings, or to a selection bias. The latter scenario would imply that we are still missing a large fraction of heavily obscured, lower luminosity (L2-10 less than or similar to 10(43) erg s(-1)) AGNs in U/LIRGs.
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| 9. |
- Armus, Lee, et al.
(författare)
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GOALS-JWST: Mid-infrared Spectroscopy of the Nucleus of NGC 7469
- 2023
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 942:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present mid-infrared spectroscopic observations of the nucleus of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469 taken with the MIRI instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as part of Directors Discretionary Time Early Release Science program 1328. The high-resolution nuclear spectrum contains 19 emission lines covering a wide range of ionization. The high-ionization lines show broad, blueshifted emission reaching velocities up to 1700 km s−1 and FWHM ranging from ∼500 to 1100 km s−1. The width of the broad emission and the broad-to-narrow line flux ratios correlate with ionization potential. The results suggest a decelerating, stratified, AGN-driven outflow emerging from the nucleus. The estimated mass outflow rate is 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than the current black hole accretion rate needed to power the AGN. Eight pure rotational H2 emission lines are detected with intrinsic widths ranging from FWHM ∼125 to 330 km s−1. We estimate a total mass of warm H2 gas of ∼1.2 × 107 M ⊙ in the central 100 pc. The PAH features are extremely weak in the nuclear spectrum, but a 6.2 μm PAH feature with an equivalent width of ∼0.07 μm and a flux of 2.7 × 10−17 W m−2 is detected. The spectrum is steeply rising in the mid-infrared, with a silicate strength of ∼0.02, significantly smaller than seen in most PG QSOs but comparable to other Seyfert 1s. These early MIRI mid-infrared IFU data highlight the power of JWST to probe the multiphase interstellar media surrounding actively accreting supermassive black holes.
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| 10. |
- Barcos-Munoz, Loreto, et al.
(författare)
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Fast, Collimated Outflow in the Western Nucleus of Arp 220
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 853:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first spatially and spectrally resolved image of the molecular outflow in the western nucleus of Arp 220. The outflow, seen in HCN (1-0) by the Atacama Large millimeter/sub-millimeter Array, is compact and collimated, with an extension ≲120 pc. Bipolar morphology emerges along the minor axis of the disk, with redshifted and blueshifted components reaching a maximum inclination-corrected velocity of km s -1 . The outflow is also seen in CO and continuum emission, the latter implying that it carries significant dust. We estimate a total mass in the outflow of , a dynamical time of ∼10 5 yr, and mass outflow rates of yr -1 and yr -1 for the northern and southern lobes, respectively. Possible driving mechanisms include supernovae energy and momentum transfer, radiation pressure feedback, and a central AGN. The latter could explain the collimated morphology of the HCN outflow; however, we need more complex theoretical models, including contributions from supernovae and AGN, to pinpoint the driving mechanism of this outflow.
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