An Imaging and Spectroscopic Exploration of the Dusty Compact Obscured Nucleus Galaxy Zw 049.057
Journal article, 2024

Zw 049.057 is a moderate-mass, dusty, early-type galaxy that hosts a powerful compact obscured nucleus (CON, L FIR,CON ≥ 1011 L ⊙). The resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope enabled measurements of the stellar light distribution and characterization of dust features. Zw 049.057 is inclined with a prominent three-zone disk; the R ≈ 1 kpc star-forming inner dusty disk contains molecular gas, a main disk with less dust and an older stellar population, and a newly detected outer stellar region at R > 6 kpc with circular isophotes. Previously unknown polar dust lanes are signatures of a past minor merger that could have warped the outer disk to near face-on. Dust transmission measurements provide lower limit gas mass estimates for dust features. An extended region with moderate optical depth and M ≥ 2 × 108 M ⊙ obscures the central 2 kpc. Optical spectra show strong interstellar Na D absorption with a constant velocity across the main disk, likely arising in this extraplanar medium. Opacity measurements of the two linear dust features, pillars, give a total mass of ≥106 M ⊙, flow rates of ≥2 M ⊙ yr−1, and few Myr flow times. Dust pillars are associated with the CON and are visible signs of its role in driving large-scale feedback. Our assessments of feedback processes suggest gas recycling sustains the CON. However, radiation pressure driven mass loss and efficient star formation must be avoided for the active galactic nucleus to retain sufficient gas over its lifespan to produce substantial mass growth of the central black hole.

Author

J. S. Gallagher III

Macalester College

University of Wisconsin Madison

R. Kotulla

University of Wisconsin Madison

L. Laufman

School of Physics and Astronomy

E. Geist

University of Wisconsin Madison

Susanne Aalto

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Niklas Falstad

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Sabine König

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

J. Krause

Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)

G. Privon

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University of Virginia

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

C. Wethers

Aaron S. Evans

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

University of Virginia

M. Gorski

Northwestern University

Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

0067-0049 (ISSN) 1538-4365 (eISSN)

Vol. 274 1 3

Subject Categories

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

DOI

10.3847/1538-4365/ad55c9

More information

Latest update

8/23/2024