Jet-driven outflows of ionised gas in the nearby radio galaxy 3C293

TL;DR

This study uses IFU observations to map ionised gas outflows driven by radio jets in galaxy 3C293, revealing extensive disturbed gas kinematics beyond the jets, consistent with jet-ISM interaction models.

Contribution

First detailed spatial mapping of jet-driven ionised gas outflows in 3C293 using IFU data, showing widespread disturbed kinematics beyond radio structures.

Findings

Outflow mass rate: 0.05-0.17 solar masses/yr

Line-widths >300 km/s extend up to 5 kpc from nucleus

Disturbed kinematics observed up to 12 kpc, indicating large-scale jet influence

Abstract

Fast outflows of gas, driven by the interaction between the radio-jets and ISM of the host galaxy, are being observed in an increasing number of galaxies. One such example is the nearby radio galaxy 3C293. In this paper we present Integral Field Unit (IFU) observations taken with OASIS on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT), enabling us to map the spatial extent of the ionised gas outflows across the central regions of the galaxy. The jet-driven outflow in 3C293 is detected along the inner radio lobes with a mass outflow rate ranging from $\sim 0.05-0.17$ solar masses/yr (in ionised gas) and corresponding kinetic power of $\sim 0.5-3.5\times 10^{40}$ erg/s. Investigating the kinematics of the gas surrounding the radio jets (i.e. not directly associated with the outflow), we find line-widths broader than $300$ km/s up to 5 kpc in the radial direction from the nucleus (corresponding to 3.5 kpc in the direction perpendicular to the radio axis at maximum extent). Along the axis of the radio jet line-widths $>400$ km/s are detected out to 7 kpc from the nucleus and line-widths of $>500$ km/s at a distance of 12 kpc from the nucleus, indicating that the disturbed kinematics clearly extend well beyond the high surface brightness radio structures of the jets. This is suggestive of the cocoon structure seen in simulations of jet-ISM interaction and implies that the radio jets are capable of disturbing the gas throughout the central regions of the host galaxy in all directions.