MMTF Discovery of Giant Ionization Cones in MR 2251-178: Implications for Quasar Radiative Feedback

TL;DR

This study reveals giant ionization cones around quasar MR 2251-178, demonstrating that a significant portion of the quasar's ionizing radiation escapes through these cones, impacting the surrounding intergalactic medium.

Contribution

First detection of large ionization cones in MR 2251-178 using flux ratio maps, highlighting the escape of ionizing photons and quasar radiative feedback effects.

Findings

Ionization cones have ~120° opening angle and cover 65-90% of 4pi steradians.

Material in the cones is matter-bounded, allowing photon escape.

Approximately 65-95% of quasar ionizing radiation escapes through the cones.

Abstract

We report the discovery of giant ionization cones in the 140-kpc nebula around quasar MR 2251-178 based on deep [O III] 5007/H-beta and [N II] 6583/H-alpha flux ratio maps obtained with the Maryland-Magellan Tunable Filter (MMTF) on the Baade-Magellan 6.5m telescope. These cones are aligned with the weak double-lobed radio source observed on smaller scale <30 kpc). They have an opening angle ~120deg +/- 10deg and subtend ~65-90% of 4pi steradians, where the large uncertainty takes into account possible projection effects. The material in the outer ionization cones is matter-bounded, indicating that all ionizing photons emitted through the cones escape from the system. The quasar ionizing flux is ~2-3 times fainter outside of these cones, despite the largely symmetric geometry of the nebula in [O III]. Overall, adding up the contributions from both inside and outside the cones, we find that ~65-95% of the quasar ionizing radiation makes its way out of the system. These results emphasize the need for line ratio maps to quantify the escape fraction of ionizing radiation from quasars and the importance of quasar radiative feedback on the intergalactic medium.