Signatures of Feedback in the Spectacular Extended Emission Region of NGC 5972
Abstract
We present Chandra X-ray Observatory observations and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph spectra of NGC 5972, one of the 19 'Voorwerpjes' galaxies. This galaxy contains an extended emission-line region (EELR) and an arcsecond scale nuclear bubble. NGC 5972 is a faded active galactic nucleus (AGN), with EELR luminosity suggesting a 2.1 dex decrease in Lbol in the last ∼5 × 10⁴ yr. We investigate the role of AGN feedback in exciting the EELR and bubble given the long-term variability and potential accretion state changes. We detect broad-band (0.3-8 keV) X-ray emission in the near-nuclear regions, coincident with the [O iii] bubble, as well as diffuse soft X-ray emission coincident with the EELR. The soft nuclear (0.5-1.5 keV) emission is spatially extended and the spectra are consistent with two apec thermal populations (∼0.80 and ∼0.10 keV). We find a bubble age >2.2 Myr, suggesting formation before the current variability. We find evidence for efficient feedback with, which may be overestimated given the recent Lbol variation. [O iii] kinematics show a 300 km s⁻¹ high-ionization velocity consistent with disturbed rotation or potentially the line-of-sight component of a ∼780 km s⁻¹ thermal X-ray outflow capable of driving strong shocks to photoionize the precursor material. We explore possibilities to explain the overall jet, radio lobe and EELR misalignment including evidence for a double supermassive black hole which could support a complex misaligned system. Show more
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https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000592860Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyVolume
Pages / Article No.
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Oxford University PressSubject
galaxies: active; galaxies: individual: NGC5972; galaxies: ISM; galxies: Seyfert; X-rays: galaxiesOrganisational unit
09680 - Quanz, Sascha Patrick / Quanz, Sascha Patrick
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Is new version of: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2208.05915
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