2021/01/31 by Mitchell Revalski, Beena Meena, Francisco Martinez +9 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abdcad
Accepted for Publication in ApJ on January 12, 2021. The paper has 40 pages and 15 figures, with results tabulated in the Appendix. Version two includes minor corrections to match the journal publication
arxiv created 2021/04/21 · arxiv updated 2021/04/22
Outflows of ionized gas driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) may significantly impact the evolution of their host galaxies. However, determining the energetics of these outflows is difficult with spatially unresolved observations that are subject to strong global selection effects. We present part of an ongoing study using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Apache Point Observatory (APO) spectroscopy and imaging to derive spatially-resolved mass outflow rates and energetics for narrow line region (NLR) outflows in nearby AGN that are based on multi-component photoionization models to account for spatial variations in the gas ionization, density, abundances, and dust content. This expanded analysis adds Mrk 3, Mrk 78, and NGC 1068, doubling the sample in Revalski (2019). We find that the outflows contain total ionized gas masses of M ≈ 105.5 - 107.5 M\odot and reach peak velocities of v ≈ 800 - 2000 km s-1. The outflows reach maximum mass outflow rates of Mout ≈ 3 - 12 M\odot yr-1 and encompass total kinetic energies of E ≈ 1054 - 1056 erg. The outflows extend to radial distances of r ≈ 0.1 - 3 kpc from the nucleus, with the gas masses, outflow energetics, and radial extents positively correlated with AGN luminosity. The outflow rates are consistent with in-situ ionization and acceleration where gas is radiatively driven at multiple radii. These radial variations indicate that spatially-resolved observations are essential for localizing AGN feedback and determining the most accurate outflow parameters.