Active galactic nucleus feedback in NGC 3982

TL;DR

This study provides observational evidence that active galactic nucleus feedback in NGC 3982 suppresses star formation in the galaxy's center while enhancing it in outer regions, illustrating AGN influence on galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It presents a combined ultraviolet and optical integral field analysis as a method to detect and understand AGN feedback effects in galaxies.

Findings

Star formation is suppressed in the central regions of NGC 3982 due to AGN activity.

Enhanced star formation observed in the outer regions of NGC 3982.

Evidence supports AGN feedback as a mechanism influencing star formation patterns.

Abstract

The energetic feedback from supermassive black holes can influence star formation at the centres of galaxies. Observational evidence for active galactic nucleus (AGN) impact on star formation can be searched for in galaxies by combining ultraviolet imaging and optical integral field unit data. The ultraviolet flux directly traces recent star formation, and the integral field unit data can reveal dust attenuation, gas ionisation mechanisms, and gas kinematics from the central regions of the galaxy disk. A pilot study on NGC 3982 shows star formation suppression in the central regions of the galaxy, likely due to negative AGN feedback, and enhanced star formation in the outer regions. The case of NGC 3982 could be observational evidence of AGN feedback operating in a Seyfert galaxy.