Ionized nebulae surrounding brightest cluster galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses IFU observations to analyze ionized nebulae around brightest cluster galaxies, revealing their complex dynamics, formation mechanisms, and ionization sources, with implications for understanding galaxy cluster cores.

Contribution

It provides detailed kinematic and ionization analysis of nebulae in cool core clusters, highlighting their dynamic nature and possible formation processes, which was less understood before.

Findings

Nebulae exhibit bulk flows and velocity shears of a few hundred km/s.

Most nebulae lack ordered rotation and are constantly reshaping.

Ionization states vary with UV light and heating sources.

Abstract

We present IFU observations of six emission-line nebulae that surround the central galaxy of cool core clusters. Qualitatively similar nebulae are observed in cool core clusters even when the dynamics and possibly formation and excitation source are different. Evidence for a nearby secondary galaxy disturbing a nebula, as well as AGN and starburst driven outflows are presented as possible formation mechanisms. One nebula has a rotation velocity of the same amplitude as the underlying molecular reservoir, which implies that the excitation or formation of a nebula does not require any disturbance of the molecular reservoir within the central galaxy. Bulk flows and velocity shears of a few hundred km/s are seen across all nebulae. The majority lack any ordered rotation, their configurations are not stable so the nebulae must be constantly reshaping, dispersing and reforming. The dimmer nebulae are co-spatial with dust features whilst the more luminous are not. Significant variation in the ionization state of the gas is seen in all nebulae through the non-uniform [NII]/H_alpha ratio. There is no correlation between the line ratio and H_alpha surface brightness, but regions with excess blue or UV light have lower line ratios. This implies that UV from massive, young stars act in combination with an underlying heating source that produces the observed low-ionization spectra.