Centaurus A: Morphology and kinematics of the HI disk
Christian Struve, Raffaella Morganti, Tom A. Oosterloo
备注:
2 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of "Formation and Evolution of Galaxy Disks", Rome 1-5 October 2007. Editors Jose G. Funes, S.J. and Enrico M. Corsini
We present first results of new ATCA HI emission and absorption observations of Centaurus A. The large-scale disk is described via a tilted-ring model. A broader redshifted absorption than previously known as well as a blueshifted absorption component against the nucleus is found.
A fine structure related to the kinematic peculiarities of three components of the Scorpius-Centaurus association (LCC, UCL, and US) has been revealed in the UV-velocity distribution of Gould Belt stars. We have been able to identify the most likely members of these groups by applying the method of analyzing the two-dimensional probability density function of stellar UV velocities that we developed. A kinematic analysis of the identified structural components has shown that, in general, the center--of--mass motion of the LCC, UCL, and US groups follows the motion characteristic of the Gould Be…
Spitzer mid-infrared images of the dusty warped disk in the galaxy Centaurus A show a parallelogram-shaped structure. We successfully model the observed mid-infrared morphology by integrating the light from an emitting, thin, and warped disk, similar to that inferred from previous kinematic studies. The models with the best match to the morphology lack dust emission within the inner 0.1 to 0.8 kpc, suggesting that energetic processes near the nucleus have disturbed the inner molecular disk, creating a gap in the molecular gas distribution.
We present new 21-cm HI observations performed with ATCA of the large HI filament located about 15 kpc NE from the centre of Centaurus A and discovered by Schiminovich et al.(1994). This HI cloud is situated (in projection) near the radio jet of Centaurus A, as well as near a large filament of ionised gas of high excitation and turbulent velocities and near regions with young stars. The higher velocity and spatial resolution of the new data reveals that, apart from the smooth velocity gradient corresponding to the overall rotation of the cloud around Centaurus A, HI with anomalous velocities o…
NGC 5128, a giant elliptical galaxy only $\sim 4$ Mpc away, is the dominant member of a galaxy group of over 80 probable members. The Centaurus group provides an excellent sample for a kinematic comparison between the halo of NGC 5128 and its surrounding satellite galaxies. A new study, presented here, shows no kinematic difference in rotation amplitude, rotation axis, and velocity dispersion between the halo of NGC 5128, determined from over $\sim340$ of its globular clusters, and those of the Centaurus group as a whole. These results suggest NGC 5128 could be behaving in part as the inner co…
[abridged] We report integral-field spectroscopic observations with CIRPASS mounted on the GEMINI South telescope of the nucleus of the nearby galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A). We detect two-dimensional distributions of the following emission-lines: [PII], [FeII] and Paschen beta. We compare our observations with previously published radio observations (VLA) and archival space-based near-infrared imaging (HST/NICMOS) and find similar features, as well as a region of high continuum coinciding with the jet (and its N1 knot) at about 2 arcsec North-East of the nucleus, possibly related to jet-induce…
We present a determination of the mass of the supermassive black hole (BH) and the nuclear stellar orbital distribution of the elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC5128) using high-resolution integral-field observations of the stellar kinematics. The observations were obtained with SINFONI at the ESO Very Large Telescope in the near-infrared (K-band), using adaptive optics to correct for the blurring effect of the earth atmosphere. The data have a spatial resolution of 0.17" FWHM and high S/N>80 per spectral pixel so that the shape of the stellar line-of-sight velocity-distribution can be reliabl…
We present multi-frequency VLA observations of the radio galaxy PKS 1246-410 at the center of the Centaurus Cluster, and compare these results to recent Chandra observations. The unusual radio morphology of PKS 1246-410 probably results from interactions with the hot, X-ray emitting gas. This gas, along with cluster magnetic fields, also produces substantial Faraday Rotation Measures towards PKS 1246-410. We discuss these observations in the context of a sample of 14 luminous X-ray clusters with embedded radio galaxies and possible cooling flows. A correlation is found between the cooling flow…
We present new observations, performed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, of the HI absorption in the central regions of Centaurus A. For the first time, absorption is detected against the radio core at velocities blueshifted with respect to the systemic velocity. Moreover, the data show that the nuclear redshifted absorption component is broader than reported before. With these new results, the kinematics of the HI in the inner regions of Cen A appears very similar to that observed in emission for the molecular circumnuclear disk. This suggests that the central HI absorption is not, …
We present two-dimensional gas-kinematic maps of the central region in Centaurus A. The adaptive optics (AO) assisted SINFONI data from the VLT have a resolution of 0.12" in K-band. The ionized gas species (Br_gamma, [FeII], [SiVI]) show a rotational pattern that is increasingly overlaid by non-rotational motion for higher excitation lines in direction of Cen A's radio jet. The emission lines of molecular hydrogen (H_2) show regular rotation and no distortion due to the jet. The molecular gas seems to be well settled in the gravitational potential of the stars and the central supermassive blac…
We model the northern middle radio lobe of Centaurus A (NGC 5128) as a buoyant bubble of plasma deposited by an intermittently active jet. The extent of the rise of the bubble and its morphology imply that the ratio of its density to that of the surrounding ISM is less than 10^{-2}, consistent with our knowledge of extragalactic jets and minimal entrainment into the precursor radio lobe. Using the morphology of the lobe to date the beginning of its rise through the atmosphere of Centaurus A, we conclude that the bubble has been rising for approximately 140Myr. This time scale is consistent wit…
We used the near infrared spectrometer ISAAC at the ESO 'Very Large Telescope' to map the velocity field of Centaurus A (NGC 5128) at several position angles and locations in the central 20" of the galaxy. The high spatial resolution (~0.5") velocity fields from both ionized and molecular gas (PaBeta, [FeII], BrGamma, and H2) are not compromised by either excitation effects or obscuration. We identify three distinct kinematical systems: (i) a rotating 'nuclear disk' of ionized gas, confined to the inner 2", the counterpart of the PaAlpha feature previously revealed by HST/NICMOS imaging; (ii) …
Images covering the central 450 by 100 arcsecond (about 8.0 by 2.0 kpc) of NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) obtained using SCUBA at 850 and 450 micron with beam sizes of 14.5 and 8 arcsecond respectively, are presented. These data are compared with those obtained at other wavelengths, in particular the optical, mid-infrared, and far-infrared continuum. The sensitive 850 and 450 micron images show that the submillimeter (submm) continuum morphology and spectral index distribution of Centaurus A comprise four regions: an unresolved AGN core, an inner jet interacting with gas in the dust lane, an inner dis…
We report new HST WFPC2 and NICMOS observations of the center of the nearest radio galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) and discuss their implications for our understanding of the active nucleus and jet. We detect the active nucleus in the near-IR (K and H) and, for the first time, in the optical (I and V), deriving the spectral energy distribution of the nucleus from the radio to X-rays. The optical and part of the near-IR emission can be explained by the extrapolation of the X-ray power law reddened by A_V~14mag, a value consistent with other independent estimates. The 20pc-scale nuclear disk disco…
Photometry and kinematics of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC~5128 (Centaurus~A) based on planetary nebulae observations (Hui~\etal 1995) are used to build dynamical models which allow us to infer the presence of a dark matter halo. To this end, we apply a Quadratic Programming method. Constant mass-to-light ratio models fail to reproduce the major axis velocity dispersion measurements at large radii: the profile of this kind of models falls off too steeply when compared to the observations, clearly suggesting the necessity of including a dark component in the halo. By assuming a mass-to-light …
We present a new modeling tool for planetary nebulae, based on 3D photoionization calculations. Our goal is to show that all the information provided by observations, regarding kinematics and morphology, have to be consistently accounted for, in order to get a real insight of the object. Only 3D simulations offer this possibility. From models for two theoretical PNe, we show that the enhancement in the equatorial zone observed in several PNe is not necessarily due to a density gradient, as usually interpreted. It is also shown that asymmetric velocity profiles often observed (e.g., Gesicki et …
We use a 3D photoionization modeling tool to study the morpho-kinematic properties of the Planetary Nebula (PN) NGC 3132. We show that it is possible to reproduce the low resolution observations (spectra and images) with an ellipsoidal shell. However, high resolution observations, as those showing a density variation along the nebula and the [O III]5007 velocity profiles, definitively rule out this description. We show that a bipolar Diabolo shape with a 40 degres rotation of the symmetry axis relative to the line of sight successfully reproduces the observed images, as well as the high resolu…
It is generally believed that major galaxy mergers with mass ratios in the range 1:1-3:1 result in remnants that have properties similar to elliptical galaxies, and minor mergers below 10:1 result in disturbed spiral galaxies. The intermediate range of mass ratios 4:1-10:1 has not been studied so far. Using N-body simulations, we show that such mergers can result in very peculiar systems, that have the morphology of a disk galaxy with an exponential profile, but whose kinematics is closer to that of elliptical systems. These objects are similar to those recently observed by Jog & Chitre (2002)…
The analysis of a sample of 30 isolated spiral galaxies with and without an AGN results in active and control galaxies having similar bulge and disk properties (since both samples are selected to match in morphological and bar classification, they have similar bar percentages). Secondary bars seem also to be indistinguishable. The central kinematics (both stellar and gas) are also studied in order to put some constraints on the processes required to fuel AGNs. Together with previous results, this points to AGNs being an episode of the life of galaxies, providing that the fuel is available and …
We present new observations of $Hα$ emission in the Hickson Compact Group 18 (HCG 18) obtained with a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. The velocity field does not show motions of individual group members but, instead, a complex common velocity field for the whole group. The gas distribution is very asymmetric with clumps of maximum intensity coinciding with the optically brightest knots. Comparing $Hα$ and HI data we conclude that HCG 18 is not a compact group but instead a large irregular galaxy with several clumps of star formation.
We examine the effect of different dark matter halo potentials on the morphology and kinematics of tidals tails in a merger model of NGC 7252. We find that models of merging galaxies with low halo masses of Mh = 4-8 M{disk+bulge} (Mdb) can fit the observed morphology and kinematics of the NGC 7252 tails while galaxies with high mass halos (Mh = 16-32 Mdb) fail in this respect. In high mass models, the deep potential only allows weakly bound disk material (stars or gas) at R > 5 disk scale lengths to be ejected in tidal tails which tend to fall back onto the parent galaxies before the final mer…
Images of the complex circumstellar nebula associated with the famous red supergiant VY CMa show evidence for multiple and asymmetric mass loss events over the past 1000 yrs. Doppler velocities of the arcs and knots in the ejecta showed that they are not only spatially distinct but also kinematically separate from the surrounding diffuse material. In this paper we describe second epoch HST/WFPC2 images to measure the transverse motions which when combined with the radial motions provide a complete picture of the kinematics of the ejecta including the total space motions and directions of the o…
We report on the results of infrared spectroscopic mapping observations carried out in the nuclear region of Centaurus A (NGC5128). The 500 pc bipolar dust shell discovered by Quillen et al.(2006) is even more clearly seen in the 11.3 micron dust emission feature than previous broad band imaging. The pure rotational lines of molecular hydrogen other than the S(0) line are detected above the dusty disk and associated with the oval dust shell. The molecular hydrogen transitions indicate the presence of warm gas at temperatures 250--720K. The ratio of the dust emission features at 7.7 and 11.3 mi…
The infrared spectrograph GNIRS on Gemini South unlocks new possibilities to study the central black holes in dusty galaxies that have been inaccessible to previous black hole studies. We exploit good near-infrared seeing to measure the central black hole (BH) of Centaurus A (NGC 5128). We measure the stellar kinematics of NGC 5128 using the region around the CO bandheads at 2.3 microns and determine the black hole mass using orbit-based models. Black holes are believed to be essential components of galaxies, and their evolutionary states appear to be closely linked to those of their hosts. Ou…
We present results of our ongoing study of the morphology and kinematics of the ionised gas in 48 representative nearby elliptical and lenticular galaxies using the SAURON integral-field spectrograph on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope. Making use of a recently developed technique, emission is detected in 75% of the galaxies. The ionised-gas distributions display varied morphologies, ranging from regular gas disks to filamentary structures. Additionally, the emission-line kinematic maps show, in general, regular motions with smooth variations in kinematic position angle. In most of the gala…
We present the results of the HI observations of four dust-lane ellipticals. The HI detected is regularly distributed in disks or rings. Moreover, in three of the four objects we have detected a very large amount of neutral hydrogen with values of M_HI/L_B that are at the end of the distribution characteristic of ellipticals and similar to what typically found in spiral galaxies. Thus, these dust-lane ellipticals may represent the results of major mergers as seen at a late stage of the evolution. The regular HI distribution and kinematics has allowed to derive values of M/L_B~20 at distances o…
We present high spatial resolution near-infrared spectra and images of the nucleus of Centaurus A (NGC 5128) obtained with NAOS-CONICA at the VLT. The adaptive optics corrected data have a spatial resolution of 0.06" (FWHM) in K- and 0.11" in H-band, four times higher than previous studies. The observed gas motions suggest a kinematically hot disk which is orbiting a central object and is oriented nearly perpendicular to the nuclear jet. We model the central rotation and velocity dispersion curves of the [FeII] gas orbiting in the combined potential of the stellar mass and the (dominant) black…
We present a high spatial and spectral resolution 2-D echelle spectrogram of the Narrow-Line Region in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC1386. This Seyfert galaxy was observed with CASPEC in the wavelength range 5270-7725 Angstrom which covers the H-alpha and the [N II] lines. With the use of spatially high resolved images taken with the WFPC2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope we could identify individual components of the Narrow-Line Region in our spectra. A Gaussian decomposition of the spectra revealed 9 distinct emission-line complexes. The brightest component is blue-shifted by -120+-10 km/s with r…
We present near-infrared (H- and K-band) integral-field observations of the circumnuclear star formation rings in five nearby spiral galaxies. The data, obtained at the Very Large Telescope with the SINFONI spectrograph, are used to construct maps of various emission lines that reveal the individual star forming regions ("hot spots") delineating the rings. We derive the morphological parameters of the rings, and construct velocity fields of the stars and the emission line gas. We propose a qualitative, but robust, diagnostic for relative hot spot ages based on the intensity ratios of the emiss…
The high latitude translucent molecular cloud L1642 has been mapped in the J=1-0 and J=2-1 transitions of 12CO, 13CO and C18O using the SEST radio telescope. We have analysed the morphology and velocity structure of the cloud using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) method. The results show that L1642 is composed of a main structure at radial velocity 0.2 km/s while the higher velocity components at ~0.5 and 1.0 km/s form an incomplete ring around it, suggesting an expanding shell structure. Fainter emission extends to the north with a still higher velocity of up to 1.6 km/s. Such a veloc…
We explore galaxy properties and their link with environment and clustering using a population of ~1000 galaxies formed in a high resolution hydrodynamic simulation of the Lambda CDM cosmology. At the redshift we concentrate on, z=1, the spatial resolution is 1.4 proper kpc/h and Milky-way sized disk galaxies contain ~10^5 particles within their virial radii. We include supermassive black hole accretion and feedback as well as a multiphase model for star formation. We find that a number of familiar qualitative relationships hold approximately between galaxy properties, for example, galaxies li…
We have combined measurements of the kinematics, morphology, and oxygen abundance of the ionized gas in \IZw18, one of the most metal-poor galaxies known, to examine the star formation history and chemical mixing processes.
The morphology of a disk galaxy is closely linked to its kinematic state. This is because density wave features are likely made of spontaneously-formed modes which are allowed to arise in the galactic resonant cavity of a particular basic disk state. The pattern speed of a density wave is an important parameter that characterizes the wave and its associated resonances. Numerical simulations by various authors have enabled us to interpret some galaxies in terms of high or low pattern speeds. The potential-density phase-shift method for locating corotation radii is an effective new tool for util…
(Abridged) The two-dimensional distribution and kinematics of the molecular, ionized, and highly ionized gas in the nuclear regions of Seyfert 1 galaxies have been measured using high spatial resolution (~0''.09) near-infrared spectroscopy from NIRSPEC with adaptive optics on the Keck telescope. Molecular hydrogen, H2, is detected in all nine Seyfert 1 galaxies and, in the majority of galaxies, has a spatially resolved flux distribution. In contrast, the narrow component of the BrG emission has a distribution consistent with that of the K-band continuum. In general, the kinematics of H2 are co…
We discuss the morphology, photometry and kinematics of the bars which have formed in three N-body simulations. These have initially the same disc and the same halo-to-disc mass ratio, but their haloes have very different central concentrations. The third model includes a bulge. The bar in the model with the centrally concentrated halo (model MH) is much stronger, longer and thinner than the bar in the model with the less centrally concentrated halo (model MD). Its shape, when viewed side-on, evolves from boxy to peanut and then to X-shaped, as opposed to that of model MD, which stays boxy. Th…
New VLA images of NH3 (1,1), (2,2), and (3,3) emission in the central 10 parsecs of the Galaxy trace filamentary streams of gas, several of which appear to feed the circumnuclear disk (CND). The NH3 images have a spatial resolution of 16.5''x14.5'' and have better spatial sampling than previous NH3 observations. The images show the ``southern streamer,'' ``50 km/s cloud,'' and new features including a ``western streamer'', 6 parsecs in length, and a ``northern ridge'' which connects to the CND. NH3(3,3) emission is very similar to 1.2 mm dust emission indicating that NH3 traces column density …
We present integral field spectroscopy of NGC 5033, a low luminosity Seyfert galaxy. The observations were made with INTEGRAL, a fiber based system operating at the WHT. The intensity map of the H$β$ emission line represents a spiral or ring-like pattern of HII regions. On the contrary, the [OIII] intensity map morphology is markedly anisotropic. The strong morphological differences imply that the [OIII] emitters represent highly ionized gas illuminated by the central source. The [OIII] map morphology is compatible with a biconical structure of ionization induced by strong extinction in the ga…