We present interferometric observations of the CN(1–0) line emission in Mrk 231 and combine them with previous observations of CO and other H
2
gas tracers to study the physical properties of the ...massive molecular outflow. We find a strong boost of the CN/CO(1–0) line luminosity ratio in the outflow of Mrk 231, which is unprecedented compared to any other known Galactic or extragalactic astronomical source. For the dense gas phase in the outflow traced by the HCN and CN emissions, we infer
X
CN
≡ CN/H
2
>
X
HCN
by at least a factor of three, with H
2
gas densities of
n
H
2
∼ 10
5−6
cm
−3
. In addition, we resolve for the first time narrow spectral features in the HCN(1–0) and HCO
+
(1–0) high-velocity line wings tracing the dense phase of the outflow. The velocity dispersions of these spectral features,
σ
v
∼ 7−20 km s
−1
, are consistent with those of massive extragalactic giant molecular clouds detected in nearby starburst nuclei. The H
2
gas masses inferred from the HCN data are quite high,
M
mol
∼ 0.3−5 × 10
8
M
⊙
. Our results suggest that massive complexes of denser molecular gas survive embedded into the more diffuse H
2
phase of the outflow, and that the chemistry of these outflowing dense clouds is strongly affected by UV radiation.
In external galaxies, molecular composition may be influenced by extreme environments such as starbursts and galaxy mergers. To study such molecular chemistry, we observed the luminous infrared ...galaxy and merger NGC 3256 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We covered most of the 3 and 1.3 mm bands for a multispecies, multitransition analysis. We first analyzed intensity ratio maps of selected lines such as HCN/HCO+, which shows no enhancement at an active galactic nucleus. We then compared the chemical compositions within NGC 3256 at the two nuclei, tidal arms, and positions with influence from galactic outflows. We found the largest variation in SiO and CH3OH, species that are likely to be enhanced by shocks. Next, we compared the chemical compositions in the nuclei of NGC 3256, NGC 253, and Arp 220; these galactic nuclei have varying star formation efficiencies. Arp 220 shows higher abundances of SiO and HC3N than NGC 3256 and NGC 253. Abundances of most species do not show a strong correlation with star formation efficiencies, although the CH3CCH abundance seems to have a weak positive correlation with the star formation efficiency. Lastly, the chemistry of spiral arm positions in NGC 3256 is compared with that of W51, a Galactic molecular cloud complex in a spiral arm. We found higher fractional abundances of shock tracers, and possibly also a higher dense gas fraction in NGC 3256 compared with W51.
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) host some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe. AGN are thought to be powered by accretion of matter onto a rotating disk that surrounds a supermassive black ...hole. Jet streams can be boosted in energy near the event horizon of the black hole and then flow outward along the rotation axis of the disk. The mechanism that forms such a jet and guides it over scales from a few light-days up to millions of light-years remains uncertain, but magnetic fields are thought to play a critical role. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), we have detected a polarization signal (Faraday rotation) related to the strong magnetic field at the jet base of a distant AGN, PKS 1830–211. The amount of Faraday rotation (rotation measure) is proportional to the integral of the magnetic field strength along the line of sight times the density of electrons. The high rotation measures derived suggest magnetic fields of at least tens of Gauss (and possibly considerably higher) on scales of the order of light-days (0.01 parsec) from the black hole.
We present ALMA 12CO (J = 1-0, 3-2 and 6-5), 13CO (J = 1-0), and C18O (J = 1-0) observations of the local ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) IRAS 13120-5453. The morphologies of the three isotopic ...species differ, as 13CO shows a hole in emission toward the center. We measure integrated brightness temperature line ratios of 12CO/13CO ≥ 60 (exceeding 200) and 13CO/C18O ≤ 1 in the central region. Assuming optical thin emission, C18O is more abundant than 13CO in several regions. The abundances within the central 500 pc are consistent with the enrichment of the interstellar medium via a young starburst (<7 Myr), a top-heavy initial mass function, or a combination of both.
ABSTRACT
We present new high-sensitivity e-MERLIN and Very Large Array (VLA) radio images of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 at 5, 10, and 21 GHz. We image the radio jet, from the compact ...components north-east (NE), C, S1, and S2 to the faint double-lobed jet structure of the NE and south-west (SW) jet lobes. We map the jet between 15 kλ and 3300 kλ spatial scales by combining enhanced-Multi Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) and VLA data for the first time. Components NE, C, and S2 have steep spectra indicative of optically thin non-thermal emission domination between 5 and 21 GHz. Component S1, which is where the active galactic nucleus resides, has a flat radio spectrum. We report a new component, S2a, a part of the southern jet. We compare these new data with the MERLIN and VLA data observed in 1983, 1992, and 1995 and report a flux decrease by a factor of 2 in component C, suggesting variability of this jet component. With the high angular resolution e-MERLIN maps, we detect the bow shocks in the NE jet lobe that coincide with the molecular gas outflows observed with ALMA. The NE jet lobe has a jet power of $P_{\rm jet-NElobe}\, =\,$ 6.7 × 1042 erg s−1 and is considered to be responsible for driving out the dense molecular gas observed with ALMA around the same region.
Nearby galaxies offer unique laboratories allowing multi-wavelength spatially resolved studies of the interstellar medium, star formation and nuclear activity across a broad range of physical ...conditions. In particular, detailed studies of individual local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) are crucial for gaining a better understanding of these processes and for developing and testing models that are used to explain statistical studies of large populations of such galaxies at high redshift for which it is currently impossible to reach a sufficient physical resolution. Here, we provide an overview of the impact of spatially resolved infrared, sub-millimetre and radio observations in the study of the interstellar medium, star formation and active galactic nuclei as well as their interplay in local LIRGs. We also present an overview of the modelling of their spectral energy distributions using state-of-the-art radiative transfer codes. These contribute necessary and powerful ‘workhorse’ tools for the study of LIRGs (and their more luminous counterparts) at higher redshifts which are unresolved in observations. We describe how spatially-resolved time-domain observations have recently opened a new window to study the nuclear activity in LIRGs. We describe in detail the observational characteristics of Arp 299 which is one of the best studied local LIRGs and exemplifies the power of the combination of time-domain and high-resolution observations at infrared to radio wavelengths together with radiative transfer modelling used to explain the spectral energy distributions of its different components. We summarise the previous achievements obtained using high-spatial resolution observations and provide an outlook into what we can expect to achieve with future facilities.
ABSTRACT
We present the highest resolution CO (2–1) observations obtained to date (0.25 arcsec) of NGC 3256 and use them to determine the detailed properties of the molecular interstellar medium in ...the central 6 kpc of this merger. Distributions of physical quantities are reported from pixel-by-pixel measurements at 55 and 120 pc scales and compared to disc galaxies observed by PHANGS-ALMA (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS with Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array). Mass surface densities range from 8 to 5500 M⊙ pc−2 and velocity dispersions from 10 to 200 km s−1. Peak brightness temperatures as large as 37 K are measured, indicating the gas in NGC 3256 may be hotter than all regions in nearby disc galaxies measured by PHANGS-ALMA. Brightness temperatures even surpass those in the overlap region of NGC 4038/9 at the same scales. The majority of the gas appears unbound with median virial parameters of 7–19, although external pressure may bind some of the gas. High internal turbulent pressures of 105–1010 K cm−3 are found. Given the lack of significant trends in surface density, brightness temperature, and velocity dispersion with physical scale we argue the molecular gas is made up of a smooth medium down to 55 pc scales, unlike the more structured medium found in the PHANGS-ALMA disc galaxies.
Context. The Galactic center is the closest region where we can study star formation under extreme physical conditions like those in high-redshift galaxies. Aims. We measure the temperature of the ...dense gas in the central molecular zone (CMZ) and examine what drives it. Methods. We mapped the inner 300 pc of the CMZ in the temperature-sensitive J = 3–2 para-formaldehyde (p - H2CO) transitions. We used the 32,1−22,0/ 30,3−20,2 line ratio to determine the gas temperature in n ~ 104−105 cm-3 gas. We have produced temperature maps and cubes with 30′′ and 1 km s-1 resolution and published all data in FITS form. Results. Dense gas temperatures in the Galactic center range from ~60 K to >100 K in selected regions. The highest gas temperatures TG> 100 K are observed around the Sgr B2 cores, in the extended Sgr B2 cloud, the 20 km s-1 and 50 km s-1 clouds, and in “The Brick” (G0.253+0.016). We infer an upper limit on the cosmic ray ionization rate ζCR< 10-14s-1. Conclusions. The dense molecular gas temperature of the region around our Galactic center is similar to values found in the central regions of other galaxies, in particular starburst systems. The gas temperature is uniformly higher than the dust temperature, confirming that dust is a coolant in the dense gas. Turbulent heating can readily explain the observed temperatures given the observed line widths. Cosmic rays cannot explain the observed variation in gas temperatures, so CMZ dense gas temperatures are not dominated by cosmic ray heating. The gas temperatures previously observed to be high in the inner ~75 pc are confirmed to be high in the entire CMZ.
The nuclear starburst within the central ∼15″ (∼250 pc; 1″ 17 pc) of NGC 253 has been extensively studied as a prototype for the starburst phase in galactic evolution. Atacama Large ...Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) imaging within receiver Bands 6 and 7 has been used to investigate the dense gas structure, kinetic temperature, and heating processes that drive the NGC 253 starburst. A total of 29 transitions from 15 molecular species/isotopologues have been identified and imaged at 1 5-0 4 resolution, allowing for the identification of five of the previously studied giant molecular clouds within the central molecular zone (CMZ) of NGC 253. Ten transitions from the formaldehyde (H2CO) molecule have been used to derive the kinetic temperature within the ∼0 5-5″ dense gas structures imaged. On ∼5″ scales we measure TK 50 K, while on size scales 1″ we measure TK 300 K. These kinetic temperature measurements further delineate the association between potential sources of dense gas heating. We have investigated potential heating sources by comparing our measurements to models that predict the physical conditions associated with dense molecular clouds that possess a variety of heating mechanisms. This comparison has been supplemented with tracers of recently formed massive stars (Brγ) and shocks (Fe ii). Derived molecular column densities point to a radially decreasing abundance of molecules with sensitivity to cosmic-ray and mechanical heating within the NGC 253 CMZ. These measurements are consistent with radio spectral index calculations that suggest a higher concentration of cosmic-ray-producing supernova remnants within the central 10 pc of NGC 253.
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 ∼105 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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