Galaxy-wide outflows in z$\sim$1.5 luminous obscured QSOs revealed through NIR slit-resolved spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study provides direct observational evidence of galaxy-wide outflows in luminous obscured quasars at z~1.5, revealing ionized and neutral gas components extending up to 10 kpc, supporting AGN-driven feedback mechanisms.

Contribution

First slit-resolved spectroscopy of two z~1.5 obscured quasars showing extended outflows in ionized and neutral gas, confirming AGN-driven winds at galaxy scales.

Findings

Outflows extend up to ~10 kpc from the black hole.

Both ionized and neutral gas components are involved in the outflows.

Gas velocities and kinetic powers support an AGN origin for the winds.

Abstract

Aims. The co-evolution of galaxies and super massive black holes (SMBHs) requires that some sort of feedback mechanism is operating during the active galactic nuclei (AGN) phases. AGN driven winds are the most likely candidates for such feedback mechanism, but direct observational evidence of their existence and of their effects on the host galaxies are still scarce and their physical origin is still hotly debated. Methods. X-shooter observations of a sample of X-ray selected, obscured quasars at z$\sim$1.5, selected on the basis of their observed red colors and X-ray-to-optical flux ratio, have shown the presence of outflowing ionized gas identified by broad [OIII] emission lines in 6 out of 8 objects, confirming the efficiency of the selection criteria. Here we present slit-resolved spectroscopy for the two brightest sources, XID2028 and XID5321, to study the complex emission and absorption line kinematics. Results. We detect outflow extended out to $\sim$ 10 kpc from the central black hole (BH), both as blueshifted and redshifted emission. Interestingly, we also detect kpc scale outflows in the [OII] emission lines and in the neutral gas component, traced by the sodium D and magnesium absorption lines, confirming that a substantial amount of the outflowing mass is in the form of neutral gas. Conclusions. The measured gas velocities and the outflow kinetic powers, inferred under reasonable assumptions on the geometry and physical properties of these two systems, favor an AGN origin for the observed winds.