Active galactic nuclei signatures in Red Geyser galaxies from Gemini GMOS-IFU observations

Journal Article · Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac2233· OSTI ID:1885484

Ilha, Gabriele S. ; Riffel, Rogemar A. ; Ricci, Tiago V.; Rembold, Sandro B.; Storchi-Bergmann, Thaisa; Riffel, Rogério ; Roy, Namrata ; Bundy, Kevin; Nemmen, Rodrigo; Schimoia, Jáderson S.; da Costa, Luiz N.

ABSTRACT Red Geysers are quiescent galaxies with galactic scale ionized outflows, likely due to low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGN). We used Gemini GMOS-IFU observations of the inner ∼1–3 kpc of nine Red Geysers selected from the MaNGA survey to study the gas ionization and kinematics. The emission-line ratios suggest the presence of Seyfert/LINER (Low Ionization Nuclear Emission Region) nuclei in all sources. Two galaxies show  Hα equivalent width ( Hα EW) larger than 3 Å (indicative of AGN ionization) within an aperture 2 $${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$$5 of diameter (1.3–3.7 kpc at the distance of galaxies) for MaNGA data, while with the higher resolution GMOS data, four galaxies present  Hα EW>3 Å within an aperture equal to the angular resolution (0.3–0.9 kpc). For two objects with GMOS-IFU data, the  Hα EW is lower than 3 Å but larger than 1.5 Å, most probably due to a faint AGN. The spatially resolved electron density maps show values between 100 and 3000 cm −3 and are consistent with those determined in other studies. The large (MaNGA) and the nuclear scale (GMOS-IFU) gas velocity fields are misaligned, with a kinematic position angle difference between 12° and 60°. The [N ii] λ6583 emission-line profiles are asymmetrical, with blue wings on the redshifted side of the velocity field and red wings on the blueshifted side. Our results support previous indications that the gas in Red Geysers is ionized by an AGN, at least in their central region, with the presence of outflows, likely originating in a precessing accretion disc.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1885484
• Journal Information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Journal Name: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 516 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 0035-8711
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English