Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Extended Emission-Line Region of 4C 37.43

Hai Fu; Alan Stockton

doi:10.1086/520530

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Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Extended Emission-Line Region of 4C 37.43

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Extended Emission-Line Region of 4C 37.43

Hai Fu and Alan Stockton

The Astrophysical journal, Vol.666(2 I), pp.794-805

05/30/2007

DOI: 10.1086/520530

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Abstract

Astrophys.J.666:794-805,2007 We present Gemini integral field spectroscopy and Keck II longslit spectroscopy of the extended emission-line region (EELR) around the quasar 4C 37.43. The velocity structure of the ionized gas is complex and cannot be explained globally by a simple dynamical model. The spectra from the clouds are inconsistent with shock or ``shock + precursor'' ionization models, but they are consistent with photoionization by the quasar nucleus. The best-fit photoionization model requires a low-metallicity (12+log(O/H) < 8.7) two-phase medium, consisting of a matter-bounded diffuse component with a unity filling-factor (N ~ 1 \cc, T ~ 15000 K), in which are embedded small, dense clouds (N ~ 400 \cc, T ~ 10^4 K). The high-density clouds are transient and can be re-generated through compressing the diffuse medium by low-speed shocks (V_S \lesssim 100 \kms). Our photoionization model gives a total mass for the ionized gas of about 3x10^{10} M_sun, and the total kinetic energy implied by this mass and the observed velocity field is ~2x10^{58} ergs. The fact that luminous EELRs are confined to steep-spectrum radio-loud quasars, yet show no morphological correspondence to the radio jets, suggests that the driving force producing the 4C 37.43 EELR was a roughly spherical blast wave initiated by the production of the jet. That such a mechanism seems capable of ejecting a mass comparable to that of the total interstellar medium of the Milky Way suggests that ``quasar-mode'' feedback may indeed be an efficient means of regulating star formation in the early universe.

Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies

Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Extended Emission-Line Region of 4C 37.43
Creators: Hai Fu - University of Hawaii
Alan Stockton - University of Hawaii
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Astrophysical journal, Vol.666(2 I), pp.794-805
DOI: 10.1086/520530
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Date published: 05/30/2007
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984199667002771

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