Quantifying Feedback from Narrow Line Region Outflows in Nearby Active Galaxies. II. Spatially Resolved Mass Outflow Rates for the QSO2 Markarian 34

TL;DR

This study measures spatially resolved mass outflow rates in the narrow line region of the nearby QSO2 Markarian 34, revealing complex kinematics and energetic outflows that correlate with luminosity, emphasizing the importance of spatial resolution.

Contribution

First spatially resolved measurement of mass outflow rates in Markarian 34's narrow line region, demonstrating the complexity of outflows and their relation to luminosity in QSO2s.

Findings

Peak outflow rate of approximately 2.0 solar masses per year.

Outflows contain about 1.6 million solar masses of ionized gas.

Outflows are more energetic than in similar galaxies.

Abstract

We present spatially resolved mass outflow rate measurements ($\dot M_{out}$) for the narrow line region of Markarian 34, the nearest Compton-thick type 2 quasar (QSO2). Spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope and at Apache Point Observatory reveal complex kinematics, with distinct signatures of outflow and rotation within 2 kpc of the nucleus. Using multi-component photoionization models, we find that the outflow contains a total ionized gas mass of $M \approx 1.6 \times 10^6 M_{\odot}$. Combining this with the kinematics yields a peak outflow rate of $\dot M_{out} \approx 2.0 \pm 0.4~M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ at a distance of 470 pc from the nucleus, with a spatially integrated kinetic energy of $E \approx 1.4 \times 10^{55}$ erg. These outflows are more energetic than those observed in Mrk 573 and NGC 4151, supporting a correlation between luminosity and outflow strength even though they have similar peak outflow rates. The mix of rotational and outflowing components suggests that spatially resolved observations are required to determine accurate outflow parameters in systems with complex kinematics. (See appended erratum for updated values.)