Evidence for low power radio jet-ISM interaction at 10 parsec in the dwarf AGN host NGC 4395

TL;DR

This study provides evidence of a low power radio jet interacting with the interstellar medium at a 10 parsec scale in the dwarf galaxy NGC 4395, revealing feedback processes on very small spatial scales.

Contribution

It demonstrates for the first time a radio jet-ISM interaction at a 10 parsec scale in a dwarf galaxy, using high-resolution radio and optical observations.

Findings

Radio jet-ISM interaction observed at 10 parsec scale.

Shock ionization of gas indicated by spectral modeling.

Displacement of CO emission suggests suppressed star formation.

Abstract

Black hole driven outflows in galaxies hosting active galactic nuclei (AGN) may interact with their interstellar medium (ISM) affecting star formation. Such feedback processes, reminiscent of those seen in massive galaxies, have been reported recently in some dwarf galaxies. However, such studies have usually been on kiloparsec and larger scales and our knowledge on the smallest spatial scales to which these feedback processes can operate is unclear. Here we demonstrate radio jet$-$ISM interaction on the scale of an asymmetric triple radio structure of $\sim$ 10 parsec size in NGC 4395. This triple radio structure is seen in the 15 GHz continuum image and the two asymmetric jet-like structures are situated on either side of the radio core that coincides with the optical {\it Gaia} position. The high resolution radio image and the extended [OIII]$\lambda$5007 emission, indicative of an outflow, are spatially coincident and are consistent with the interpretation of a low power radio jet interacting with the ISM. Modelling of the spectral lines using {\tt MAPPINGS}, and estimation of temperature using optical integral field spectroscopic data suggest shock ionization of the gas. The continuum emission at 237 GHz, though weak, was found to spatially coincide with the AGN. However, the CO(2$-$1) line emission was found to be displaced by around 20 parsec northward of the AGN core. The spatial coincidence of molecular H$_2$$\lambda$2.4085 along the jet direction, the morphology of ionised [OIII]$\lambda$5007 and displacement of the CO(2$-$1) emission argues for conditions less favourable for star formation in the central $\sim$ 10 parsec region.