Molecular Abundance of the Circumnuclear Region Surrounding an Active Galactic Nucleus in NGC 1068 based on Imaging Line Survey in the 3-mm Band with ALMA

TL;DR

This study uses ALMA observations to map molecular line distributions in NGC 1068's central region, revealing how AGN activity influences molecular abundances and physical conditions in the circumnuclear environment.

Contribution

First imaging line survey of NGC 1068's central 3 kpc in the 3-mm band, analyzing molecular abundances and effects of AGN feedback on the interstellar medium.

Findings

H13CN, SiO, HCN, H13CO+ are abundant in the CND

13CO is more abundant in the starburst ring

High-temperature shocks enhance HCN in the CND

Abstract

We present an imaging molecular line survey in the 3-mm band (85-114 GHz) focused on one of the nearest galaxies with an active galactic nucleus (AGN), NGC 1068, based on observations taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Distributions of 23 molecular transitions are obtained in the central ~3 kpc region, including both the circumnuclear disk (CND) and starburst ring (SBR) with 60 and 350 pc resolution. The column densities and relative abundances of all the detected molecules are estimated under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium in the CND and SBR. Then, we discuss the physical and chemical effects of the AGN on molecular abundance corresponding to the observation scale. We found that H13CN, SiO, HCN, and H13CO+ are abundant in the CND relative to the SBR. In contrast, 13CO is more abundant in the SBR. Based on the calculated column density ratios of N(HCN)/N(HCO+), N(HCN)/N(CN), and other molecular distributions, we conclude that the enhancement of HCN in the CND may be due to high-temperature environments resulting from strong shocks, which are traced by the SiO emission. Moreover, the abundance of CN in the CND is significantly lower than the expected value of the model calculations in the region affected by strong radiation. The expected strong X-ray irradiation from the AGN has a relatively lower impact on the molecular abundance in the CND than mechanical feedback.