High-Resolution Sub/millimeter Observations of Mergers and Luminous Galaxy Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper discusses high-resolution submillimeter and millimeter observations of molecular gas and dust in galaxy mergers and luminous nuclei, revealing details about their interstellar medium and embedded power sources.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the behavior and properties of interstellar medium in merger nuclei using high-resolution (sub)millimeter observations.

Findings

Detection of mini disks around remnant nuclei

Constraints on physical parameters of hidden power sources

Observation of gas inflow, outflow, and chemical conditions

Abstract

I present recent high-resolution submillimeter and millimeter observations of molecular gas and dust in some mergers, luminous galaxy nuclei, and possible mergers. Such observations tell us the behavior and properties of interstellar medium in merger nuclei. For example, the gas sometimes makes a mini disk around the remnant nucleus, feeds starburst and/or a massive black hole there, hides such a power source(s) by enveloping it, and is blown out by the embedded power source. Even when the power source is completely enveloped and hidden we can still constrain its physical parameters and nature from high-resolution (sub)millimeter observations. The observables include gas motion such as rotation (hence dynamical mass) and inflow/outflow, luminosity and luminosity density of the embedded nucleus, and mass, temperature, density, chemical composition, and (sometimes unusual) excitation conditions of gas.