Bibcode
Knapen, J. H.; Comerón, S.; Seidel, M. K.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 621, id.L5, 6 pp.
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1
2019
Journal
Citations
10
Refereed citations
8
Description
We present the discovery of a small kinematically decoupled core of
0.″2 (60 pc) in radius as well as an outflow jet in the
archetypical AGN-starburst "composite" galaxy NGC 7130 from integral
field data obtained with the adaptive optics-assisted MUSE-NFM
instrument on the VLT. Correcting the already good natural seeing at the
time of our science verification observations with the four-laser
GALACSI AO system, we reach an unprecedented spatial resolution at
optical wavelengths of around 0.″15. We confirm the existence of
star-forming knots arranged in a ring of 0.″58 (185 pc) in radius
around the nucleus, previously observed from UV and optical Hubble Space
Telescope and CO(6-5) ALMA imaging. We determine the position of the
nucleus as the location of a peak in gas velocity dispersion. A plume of
material extends towards the NE from the nucleus until at least the edge
of our field of view at 2″ (640 pc) radius which we interpret as
an outflow jet originating in the AGN. The plume is not visible
morphologically, but is clearly characterised in our data by
emission-line ratios characteristic of AGN emission, enhanced gas
velocity dispersion, and distinct non-circular gas velocities. Its
orientation is roughly perpendicular to the line of nodes of the
rotating host galaxy disc. A circumnuclear area of positive and negative
velocities of 0.″2 in radius indicates a tiny inner disc, which
can only be seen after combining the integral field spectroscopic
capabilities of MUSE with adaptive optics.
Based on observations made at the European Southern Observatory using
the Very Large Telescope under programme 60.A-9493(A).
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