The MUSE view of QSO PG1307+085: An elliptical galaxy on the $M_{BH}-\sigma_*$ relation interacting with its group environment

TL;DR

This study uses deep MUSE spectroscopy to analyze the host galaxy of QSO PG1307+085, revealing its position on the black hole mass-velocity dispersion relation, extended ionized gas features, and environmental interactions affecting its gas dynamics.

Contribution

First detailed MUSE integral-field spectroscopy of PG1307+085 resolving the host galaxy and its environment, providing insights into the galaxy's relation to the black hole and environmental effects.

Findings

Host galaxy's stellar velocity dispersion places it on the M-sigma relation within scatter.

Detection of a large extended ENLR reaching 30 kpc around the QSO.

Identification of a faint ionized gas bridge indicating environmental interactions.

Abstract

We report deep optical integral-field spectroscopy with the MUSE of the luminous radio-quiet QSO PG1307+085 (z=0.154) obtained during the commissioning of the instrument. Given the high sensitivity and spatial resolution delivered by MUSE, we are able to resolve the compact ($r_e$~1.3") elliptical host galaxy. After careful spectroscopic deblending of the QSO and host galaxy emission, we infer a stellar velocity dispersion of $155\pm19$km/s. This places PG1307+085 local $M_{BH}-\sigma_*$ relation within the intrinsic scatter but offset towards a higher black hole mass with respect to the mean relation. The observations with MUSE also reveal a large extended ENLR around PG1307+085 reaching out to 30kpc. In addition, we detect a faint bridge of ionized gas towards the most massive galaxy of the galaxy group being just 20" (50kpc) away. Previous long-slit spectroscopic observations missed most of these extended features due to a miss-aligned slit. The ionized gas kinematics does not show any evidence for gas outflows on kpc scales despite the high QSO luminosity of $L_\mathrm{bol}>10^{46}$ erg/s. Based on the ionized gas distribution, kinematics and metallicity we discuss the origin of the ENLR with respect to its group environments including minor mergers, ram-pressure stripping or filamentary gas accretion as the most likely scenarios. We conclude that PG1307+085 is a normal elliptical host in terms of the scaling relations, but that the gas is most likely affected by the environment through gravity or ambient pressure. It is possible that the ongoing interaction with the environment, mainly seen in the ionized gas, is also be responsible for driving sufficient gas to feed the black hole at the centre of the galaxy.