2021 publications | All publications
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The spatially resolved gas and dust connection in neutral inflows and outflows in nearby AGN
Rupke, David S. N., Thomas, Adam D. & Dopita, Michael A., 2021, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 503, 4748 | View on ADS (2021MNRAS.503.4748R)
Abstract
Dusty, neutral outflows and inflows are a common feature of nearby star-forming galaxies. We characterize these flows in eight galaxies - mostly active galactic nuclei (AGN) - selected for their widespread Na I D signatures from the Siding Spring Southern Seyfert Spectroscopic Snapshot Survey (S7). This survey employs deep, wide field-of-view (FOV) integral field spectroscopy at moderate spectral resolution (R = 7000 at Na I D). We significantly expand the sample of sightlines in external galaxies in which the spatially resolved relationship has been studied between cool, neutral gas properties - N(Na I), Weq(Na I D) - and dust - E(B - V) from both stars and gas. Our sample shows strong, significant correlations of total Weq with E(B - V)⋆ and g - i colour within individual galaxies; correlations with E(B - V)gas are present but weaker. Regressions yield slope variations from galaxy to galaxy and intrinsic scatter ∼1 Å. The sample occupies regions in the space of N(Na I) and $W_\mathrm{eq}^\mathrm{abs}$ versus E(B - V)gas that are consistent with extrapolations from other studies to higher colour excess [E(B - V)gas ∼ 1]. For perhaps the first time in external galaxies, we detect inverse P Cygni profiles in the Na I D line, presumably due to inflowing gas. Via Doppler-shifted Na I D absorption and emission lines, we find ubiquitous flows that differ from stellar rotation by $\gtrsim$ 100 km s-1 or have $|v_{\mathrm{ abs}} - v_{\mathrm{ em}}|\gtrsim 100$ km s-1. Inflows and outflows extend towards the edge of the detected stellar disc/FOV, together subtend 10-40 per cent of the projected disc, and have similar mean N(Na I) and Weq(Na I D). Outflows are consistent with minor axis or jet-driven flows, while inflows tend towards the projected major axis. The inflows may result from non-axisymmetric potentials, tidal motions, or halo infall.
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