The Black Hole-Galaxy Connection: Interplay between Feedback, Obscuration, and Host Galaxy Substructure

TL;DR

This study investigates how galaxy substructures influence AGN feedback, obscuration, and outflow collimation in NGC 7582, revealing the significant role of features like dust lanes and starburst complexes in these processes.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed kinematic analysis of a kinematically distinct core in NGC 7582, highlighting the impact of galaxy substructure on AGN phenomena beyond small-scale torus models.

Findings

Discovery of a kinematically distinct core (~600pc) in NGC 7582.

Evidence that galaxy substructure affects AGN outflow collimation and obscuration.

Confirmation of large-scale, photoionized outflow cones and nuclear obscuration.

Abstract

There is growing evidence for physical influence between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. We present a case study of nearby galaxy NGC 7582, for which we find evidence that galactic substructure plays an important role in affecting the collimation of ionized outflows as well as contributing to the heavy active galactic nucleus (AGN) obscuration. This result contrasts with a simple, small-scale AGN torus model, according to which AGN wind collimation may take place inside the torus itself, at subparsec scale. Using 3D spectroscopy with the MUSE instrument, we probe the kinematics of the stellar and ionized gas components as well as the ionization state of the gas from a combination of emission line ratios. We report for the first time a kinematically distinct core (KDC) in NGC 7582, on a scale of ~600pc. This KDC coincides spatially with dust lanes and starbursting complexes previously observed. We interpret it as a circumnuclear ring of stars and dusty, gas-rich material. We obtain a clear view of the outflowing cones over kpc scales, and demonstrate that they are predominantly photoionized by the central engine. We detect the back cone (behind the galaxy), and confirm previous results of a large nuclear obscuration of both the stellar continuum and HII regions. While we tentatively associate the presence of the KDC to a large-scale bar and/or a minor galaxy merger, we stress the importance of gaining a better understanding of the role of galaxy substructure in controlling the fueling, feedback and obscuration of AGN.