Highly ionized gas on galaxy scales: mapping the interacting Seyfert galaxy LEDA 135736

TL;DR

This study maps the ionized gas and kinematic features of the Seyfert galaxy LEDA 135736, revealing an extended narrow line region, star formation, and jet-driven outflows, suggesting galaxy interaction triggers AGN activity.

Contribution

First detailed mapping of ionized gas and kinematics in LEDA 135736, linking AGN activity, star formation, and galaxy interaction.

Findings

Extended narrow line region out to 9 kpc

Star formation 12 kpc from galaxy center

Jet-driven mass outflow with 2% of ENLR kinetic energy

Abstract

We have used the VIMOS IFU to map the properties of the Seyfert 1.9 galaxy LEDA 135736. These maps reveal a number of interesting features including: an Extended Narrow Line Region detectable out to 9 kpc, an area of intense star formation located at a projected distance of 12 kpc from the centre, an elliptical companion galaxy, and kinematic features, aligned along the long-axis of the ENLR, that are consistent with radio jet-driven mass outflow. We propose that the ENLR results from extra-planar gas ionized by the AGN, and that the AGN in turn might be triggered by interaction with the companion galaxy, which can also explain the burst of star formation and morphological features. Only about two percent of the ENLR's kinetic energy is in the mass outflow. We infer from this that the bulk of mechanical energy imparted by the jet is used to heat this gas.