Search

ABSTRACT We present adaptive optics-assisted K-band integral field spectroscopy of the central cluster galaxy in 2A 0335+096 ( z= 0.0349). The H2 v=1-0 S(1) emission is concentrated in two peaks within 600 pc of the nucleus and fainter but kinematically active emission extends towards the nucleus. The H2 is in a rotating structure which aligns with, and appears to have been accreted from, a stream of Hα emission extending over 14 kpc towards a companion galaxy. The projected rotation axis aligns with the 5 GHz radio lobes. This H2 traces the known 1.2 × 109 M⊙ CO-emitting reservoir; limits on the Brγ emission confirm that the H2 emission is not excited by star formation, which occurs at a rate of less than 1 M⊙ yr−1 in this gas. If its accretion on to the black hole can be regulated whilst star formation remains suppressed, the reservoir could last for at least 1 Gyr; the simultaneous accretion of just ∼5 per cent of the gas could drive a series of active galactic nucleus (AGN) outbursts which offset X-ray cooling in the cluster core for the full ∼1 Gyr. Alternatively, if the regulation is ineffective and the bulk of the H2 accretes within a few orbital periods (25-100 Myr), the resulting 1062 erg outburst would be among the most powerful cluster AGN outbursts known. In either case, these observations further support cold feedback scenarios for AGN heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-velocity galactic outflows, driven by intense bursts of star formation and black hole accretion, are processes invoked by current theories of galaxy formation to terminate star formation in the most massive galaxies and to deposit heavy elements in the intergalactic medium. From existing observational evidence (for high-redshift galaxies) it is unclear whether such outflows are localized to regions of intense star formation just a few kiloparsecs in extent, or whether they instead have a significant impact on the entire galaxy and its surroundings. Here we present two-dimensional spectroscopy of a star-forming galaxy at redshift z = 3.09 (seen 11.5 gigayears ago, when the Universe was 20 per cent of its current age): its spatially extended Lyα line emission appears to be absorbed by H i in a foreground screen covering the entire galaxy, with a lateral extent of at least 100 kpc and remarkable velocity coherence. This screen was ejected from the galaxy during a starburst several 108 years earlier and has subsequently swept up gas from the surrounding intergalactic medium and cooled. This demonstrates the galaxy-wide impact of high-redshift superwinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present new Chandra X-ray observations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the cool-core cluster Abell 2597 ( z= 0.0821). The data reveal an extensive kpc-scale X-ray cavity network as well as a 15-kpc filament of soft-excess gas exhibiting strong spatial correlation with archival Very Large Array radio data. In addition to several possible scenarios, multiwavelength evidence may suggest that the filament is associated with multiphase (103-107 K) gas that has been entrained and dredged-up by the propagating radio source. Stemming from a full spectral analysis, we also present profiles and 2D spectral maps of modelled X-ray temperature, entropy, pressure and metal abundance. The maps reveal an arc of hot gas which in projection borders the inner edge of a large X-ray cavity. Although limited by strong caveats, we suggest that the hot arc may be (a) due to a compressed rim of cold gas pushed outwards by the radio bubble or (b) morphologically and energetically consistent with cavity-driven active galactic nucleus heating models invoked to quench cooling flows, in which the enthalpy of a buoyant X-ray cavity is locally thermalized as ambient gas rushes to refill its wake. If confirmed, this would be the first observational evidence for this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT New Chandra X-ray and Herschel Far-Infrared (FIR) observations enable a multiwavelength study of active galactic nucleus (AGN) heating and intracluster medium (ICM) cooling in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of Abell 2597 ( z= 0.0821). The new Chandra observations reveal the central ≲30 kpc X-ray cavity network to be more extensive than previously thought, and associated with enough enthalpy to theoretically inhibit the inferred classical cooling flow. Nevertheless, we present new evidence, consistent with previous results, that a moderately strong residual cooling flow is persisting at 4-8 per cent of the classically predicted rates in a spatially structured manner amid the feedback-driven excavation of the X-ray cavity network. New Herschel observations are used to estimate warm and cold dust masses, a lower limit gas-to-dust ratio and a star formation rate consistent with previous measurements. [O i] and CO(2−1) line profiles are used to constrain the kinematics of the ∼109 M⊙ reservoir of cold molecular gas. The cooling time profile of the ambient X-ray atmosphere is used to map the locations of the observational star formation entropy threshold as well as the theoretical thermal instability threshold. Both lie just outside the ≲30-kpc central region permeated by X-ray cavities, and star formation as well as ionized and molecular gas lie interior to both. The young stars are distributed in an elongated region that is aligned with the radio lobes, and their estimated ages are both younger and older than the X-ray cavity network, suggesting both jet-triggered as well as persistent star formation over the current AGN feedback episode. Bright X-ray knots that are coincident with extended Lyα and far-ultraviolet continuum filaments motivate a discussion of structured cooling from the ambient hot atmosphere along a projected axis that is perpendicular to X-ray cavity and radio axis. We conclude that the cooling ICM is the dominant contributor of the cold gas reservoir fuelling star formation and AGN activity in the Abell 2597 BCG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We exploit the gravitational potential of a massive, rich cluster at to study the internal properties of a gravitationally lensed galaxy at . Using high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope imaging together with optical (VIMOS) and near-infrared (SINFONI) integral field spectroscopy, we have studied the rest-frame ultraviolet and optical properties of the lensed galaxy seen through the cluster RCS0224−002. Using a detailed gravitational lens model of the cluster, we reconstruct the source-frame morphology on 200 pc scales and find an Lyman-break galaxy with an intrinsic size of only , a velocity gradient of and an implied dynamical mass of within 2 kpc. We infer an integrated star formation rate of just from the intrinsic [O ii]λ3727 emission-line flux. The Lyα emission appears redshifted by with respect to the [O ii] emission. The Lyα is also significantly more extended than the nebular emission, extending over 11.9 × 2.4 kpc. Over this area, the Lyα centroid varies by less than . We model the asymmetric Lyα emission with an underlying Gaussian profile with an absorber in the blue wing and find that the underlying Lyα emission-line centroid is in excellent agreement with the [O ii] emission-line redshift. By examining the spatially resolved structure of the [O ii] and Lyα emission lines, we investigate the nature of this system. The model for local starburst galaxies suggested by Mas-Hesse et al. provides a good description of our data, and suggests that the galaxy is surrounded by a galactic-scale bipolar outflow which has recently bursted out of the system. The outflow, which appears to be currently located ≳30 kpc from the galaxy, is escaping at a speed of upto . Although the mass of the outflow is uncertain, the geometry and velocity of the outflow suggests that the ejected material is travelling far faster than escape velocity and will travel more than 1 Mpc (comoving) before eventually stalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report ALMA Early Science CO(1-0) and CO(3-2) observations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in A1664. The BCG contains 1.1 × 1010M☼ of molecular gas divided roughly equally between two distinct velocity systems: one from –250 to +250 km s–1 centered on the BCG's systemic velocity and a high-velocity system blueshifted by 570 km s–1 with respect to the systemic velocity. The BCG's systemic component shows a smooth velocity gradient across the BCG center, suggestive of rotation about the nucleus. However, the mass and velocity structure are highly asymmetric and there is little star formation coincident with a putative disk. It may be an inflow of gas that will settle into a disk over several 108 yr. The high-velocity system consists of two gas clumps, each ∼2 kpc across, located to the north and southeast of the nucleus. Each has a line of sight velocity spread of 250-300 km s–1. The velocity of the gas in the high-velocity system increases toward the BCG center and may be a massive flow into the nucleus. However, the velocity gradient is not smooth. These structures are also coincident with low optical-ultraviolet surface brightness regions, which could indicate dust extinction associated with each clump. The structure is complex, making a clear interpretation difficult, but if the dusty, molecular gas lies predominantly in front of the BCG, the blueshifted velocities would indicate an outflow. Based on the energy requirements, such a massive outflow would most likely be driven by the active galactic nucleus. A merger origin is unlikely but cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]