Quantifying the fast outflow in the luminous Seyfert galaxy PG1211+143

TL;DR

This study confirms a persistent, wide-angle, fast ionized outflow in the Seyfert galaxy PG1211+143, providing insights into AGN feedback mechanisms during rapid super-Eddington growth phases.

Contribution

First direct measurement of a wide-angle, sub-relativistic outflow in PG1211+143, highlighting its potential role in galaxy evolution.

Findings

Persistent fast ionized outflow detected in multiple observations

Large covering factor of the outflow confirmed

Implications for AGN feedback and galaxy growth

Abstract

We report two new XMM-Newton observations of PG1211+143 in December 2007, again finding evidence of the fast outflow of highly ionised gas first detected in 2001. Stacking the new spectra with those from two earlier XMM-Newton observations reveals strong and broad emission lines of FeXXV and OVIII, indicating the fast outflow to be persistent and to have a large covering factor. This finding confirms a high mass rate for the ionised ouflow in PG1211+143 and provides the first direct measurement of a wide angle, sub-relativistic outflow from an AGN transporting mechanical energy with the potential to disrupt the growth of the host galaxy. We suggest PG1211+143 may be typical of an AGN in a rapid super-Eddington growth phase.