J/A+A/656/A45 Feeding and feedback in Fornax A (Maccagni+, 2021)
AGN feeding and feedback in Fornax A.
Kinematical analysis of the multi-phase ISM.
Maccagni F.M., Serra P., Gaspari M., Kleiner D., Morokuma-Matsui K.,
Oosterloo T.A., Onodera M., Kamphuis P., Loi F., Thorat K., Ramatsoku M.,
Smirnov O., White S.V.
<Astron. Astrophys. 656, A45 (2021)>
=2021A&A...656A..45M 2021A&A...656A..45M (SIMBAD/NED BibCode)
ADC_Keywords: Galaxies, radio ; Radio sources
Keywords: galaxies: individual: Fornax A - galaxies: individual: NGC 1316 -
galaxies: active - galaxies: kinematics and dynamics - galaxies: ISM -
accretion, accretion discs
Abstract:
We present a multi-wavelength study of the gaseous medium surrounding
the nearby active galactic nucleus (AGN), Fornax A. Using MeerKAT,
ALMA, and MUSE observations, we reveal a complex distribution of the
atomic (HI), molecular (CO 1-0), and ionised gas in its centre and
along the radio jets. By studying the multi-scale kinematics of the
multi-phase gas, we reveal the presence of concurrent AGN feeding and
feedback phenomena. Several clouds and an extended 3kpc filament -
perpendicular to the radio jets and the inner disc (r<4.5kpc) - show
highly-turbulent kinematics, which likely induces non-linear
condensation and subsequent chaotic cold accretion (CCA) onto the AGN.
In the wake of the radio jets and in an external (r>4.5kpc) ring,
we identify an entrained massive (∼107M☉) multi-phase outflow
(vOUT∼2000km/s^). The rapid flickering of the nuclear activity
of Fornax A (∼3Myr) and the gas experiencing turbulent condensation
raining onto the AGN provide quantitative evidence that a recurrent,
tight feeding and feedback cycle may be self-regulating the activity
of FORN, in agreement with CCA simulations. To date, this is one of
the most in-depth probes of such a mechanism, paving the way to apply
these precise diagnostics to a larger sample of nearby AGN hosts and
their multi-phase Interstellar Medium.
Description:
For the purposes of this paper we consider high resolution spectral
observations from the radio, millimetre and optical wavelengths. We
use MeerKAT observations to study the neutral hydrogen (HI) 21-cm
line, the Atacama Large Millimetre and submillimetre Array (ALMA) for
the 12CO (1-0) emission and the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer
(MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) for the ionised lines (Balmer
lines, [OIII], [OI], [NII] and [SII]).
Objects:
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RA (2000) DE Designation(s)
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03 22 41.79 -37 12 29.5 Fornax A = NGC 1316
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File Summary:
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FileName Lrecl Records Explanations
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ReadMe 80 . This file
list.dat 126 3 List of fits datacubes
fits/* . 3 Individual fits datacubes
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Byte-by-byte Description of file: list.dat
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Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
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1- 9 F9.5 deg RAdeg Right Ascension of center (J2000)
10- 18 F9.5 deg DEdeg Declination of center (J2000)
20- 22 I3 --- Nx Number of pixels along X-axis
24- 26 I3 --- Ny Number of pixels along Y-axis
28- 30 I3 --- Nz Number of slices
32- 52 A21 "datime" Obs.date Observation date
54- 61 F8.3 km/s bVRAD Lower value of VRAD interval
63- 69 F7.2 km/s BVRAD Upper value of VRAD interval
71- 78 F8.2 m/s dVRAD VRAD resolution
80- 84 I5 Kibyte size Size of FITS file
86-104 A19 --- FileName Name of FITS file, in subdirectory fits
106-126 A21 --- Title Title of the FITS file
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Acknowledgements:
Filippo Maccagni, filippo.maccagni(at)inaf.it
(End) Patricia Vannier [CDS] 20-Nov-2021