AGN Feedback Driven Molecular Outflow in NGC 1266

TL;DR

This paper presents evidence that a low-level AGN in NGC 1266 drives a molecular outflow, supporting the role of AGN feedback in galaxy evolution and star formation quenching.

Contribution

It provides high-resolution VLBA observations confirming the presence of an AGN-driven molecular outflow in NGC 1266, a nearby galaxy.

Findings

Detection of a compact, high-brightness continuum source at the galaxy center.

Identification of a molecular outflow likely driven by the AGN.

Implication of AGN feedback in galaxy evolution processes.

Abstract

NGC 1266 is a nearby field galaxy observed as part of the ATLAS3D survey (Cappellari et al. 2011). NGC 1266 has been shown to host a compact (< 200 pc) molecular disk and a mass-loaded molecular outflow driven by the AGN (Alatalo et al. 2011). Very Long Basline Array (VLBA) observations at 1.65 GHz revealed a compact (diameter < 1.2 pc), high bright- ness temperature continuum source most consistent with a low-level AGN origin. The VLBA continuum source is positioned at the center of the molecular disk and may be responsible for the expulsion of molecular gas in NGC 1266. Thus, the candidate AGN-driven molecular outflow in NGC 1266 supports the picture in which AGNs do play a significant role in the quenching of star formation and ultimately the evolution of the red sequence of galaxies.