Miguel Pereira Santaella

Abstract:

We combine new CO(1–0) line observations of 24 intermediate redshift galaxies (0.03 < z < 0.28) along with literature data of galaxies at 0 < z < 4 to explore scaling relations between the dust and gas content using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) 6.2 μm (L6.2), CO (⁠L′CO⁠), and infrared (LIR) luminosities for a wide range of redshifts and physical environments. Our analysis confirms the existence of a universal L6.2–L′CO correlation followed by normal star-forming galaxies (SFGs) and starbursts (SBs) at all redshifts. This relation is also followed by local ultraluminous infrared galaxies that appear as outliers in the L6.2–LIR and LIR–L′CO relations defined by normal SFGs. The emerging tight (σ ≈ 0.26 dex) and linear (α = 1.03) relation between L6.2 and L′CO indicates a L6.2 to molecular gas (⁠MH2⁠) conversion factor of α6.2 = MH2/L6.2 = (2.7 ± 1.3) × αCO, where αCO is the L′CO to MH2 conversion factor. We also find that on galaxy integrated scales, PAH emission is better correlated with cold rather than with warm dust emission, suggesting that PAHs are associated with the diffuse cold dust, which is another proxy for MH2⁠. Focusing on normal SFGs among our sample, we employ the dust continuum emission to derive MH2 estimates and find a constant MH2/L6.2 ratio of α6.2 = 12.3 M⊙/L⊙(σ ≈ 0.3 dex). This ratio is in excellent agreement with the L′CO-based MH2/L6.2 values for αCO = 4.5 M⊙/(K km s−1 pc2) which is typical of normal SFGs. We propose that the presented L6.2–L′CO and L6.2–MH2 relations will serve as useful tools for the determination of the physical properties of high-z SFGs, for which PAH emission will be routinely detected by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Abstract:

We present new CO(2-1) observations of 3 low-z (~350 Mpc) ULIRG systems (6 nuclei) observed with ALMA at high-spatial resolution (~500 pc). We detect massive cold molecular gas outflows in 5 out of 6 nuclei (0.3-5)x10^8 Msun. These outflows are spatially resolved with deprojected radii of 0.25-1 kpc although high-velocity molecular gas is detected up to ~0.5-1.8 kpc (1-6 kpc deprojected). The mass outflow rates are 12-400 Msun/yr and the inclination corrected average velocity of the outflowing gas 350-550 km/s (v_max = 500-900 km/s). The origin of these outflows can be explained by the nuclear starbursts although the contribution of an obscured AGN can not be completely ruled out. The position angle (PA) of the outflowing gas along the kinematic minor axis of the nuclear molecular disk suggests that the outflow axis is perpendicular to the disk for three of these outflows. Only in one case, the outflow PA is clearly not along the kinematic minor axis. The outflow depletion times are 15-80 Myr which are slightly shorter than the star-formation (SF) depletion times (30-80 Myr). However, we estimate that only 15-30% of the outflowing gas will escape the gravitational potential of the nucleus. The majority of the outflowing gas will return to the disk after 5-10 Myr and become available to form new stars. Therefore, these outflows will not likely quench the nuclear starbursts. These outflows would be consistent with being driven by radiation pressure (momentum-driven) only if the coupling between radiation and dust increases with increasing SF rates. This can be achieved if the dust optical depth is higher in objects with higher SF. The relatively small sizes (<1 kpc) and dynamical times (<3 Myr) of the cold molecular outflows suggests that molecular gas cannot survive longer in the outflow environment or that it cannot form efficiently beyond these distances or times. (Abridged)

Abstract:

The detection of several radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope hints at the existence of a rare, new class of γ -ray emitting active galactic nuclei with low black hole masses. Like flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs), their γ -ray emission is thought to be produced via the external Compton mechanism whereby relativistic jet electrons upscatter a photon field external to the jet, e.g. from the accretion disc, broad line region (BLR), and dusty torus, to higher energies. Here we study the origin of the γ -ray emission in the lowest-redshift candidate among the currently known γ -ray emitting NLS1s, 1H 0323+342, and take a new approach. We observationally constrain the external photon field using quasi-simultaneous near-infrared, optical, and X-ray spectroscopy. Applying a one-zone leptonic jet model, we simulate the range of jet parameters for which this photon field, when Compton scattered to higher energies, can explain the γ -ray emission. We find that the site of the γ -ray emission lies well within the BLR and that the seed photons mainly originate from the accretion disc. The jet power that we determine, 1.0 × 1045 erg s−1, is approximately half the accretion disc luminosity. We show that this object is not simply a low-mass FSRQ, its jet is intrinsically less powerful than predicted by scaling a typical FSRQ jet by black hole mass and accretion rate. That γ -ray-emitting NLS1s appear to host underpowered jets may go some way to explaining why so few have been detected to date.