IC 485:a new candidate disk-maser galaxy at $\sim$100 Mpc distance. Milliarcsecond resolution study of the galaxy nucleus and of the $H_{2}O$ megamaser

TL;DR

This study uses milliarcsecond resolution observations to analyze water maser emissions in galaxy IC485, providing evidence that supports its classification as a disk-maser galaxy with a supermassive black hole, enhancing understanding of AGN structures.

Contribution

First high-precision positional measurement of maser components in IC485, confirming its status as a candidate disk-maser galaxy at ~122 Mpc distance.

Findings

Detected two water maser components separated by 472 km/s.

Estimated SMBH mass of 1.2 x 10^7 solar masses.

Strong evidence linking maser emission to an edge-on accretion disk.

Abstract

Masers are a unique tool to investigate the emitting gas in the innermost regions of AGNs and to map accretion disks and tori orbiting around supermassive black holes. IC485, which is classified as a LINER or Seyfert galaxy, hosts a bright water maser whose nature is still under debate. Indeed, this might be either a nuclear disk maser, a jet/outflow maser, or even the very first `inclined water maser disk'. We aim to investigate the nature of the maser by determining the location and the distribution of the maser emission at mas resolution and by associating it with the main nuclear components of IC485. In a broader context, this work might also provide further information for better understanding the physics and the disk/jet geometry in LINER or Seyfert galaxies. We observed in 2018 the nuclear region of IC485 in continuum and spectral-line mode with the VLBA and the EVN at L, C, and K bands (linear scales from ~3 to 0.2 pc). We detected 2 water maser components separated in velocity by 472 km/s, with one centred at the systemic velocity of the nuclear region and the other at a red-shifted velocity. We measured for the first time the absolute positions of these components with an accuracy of ~0.1 mas. Assuming a maser associated with an edge-on disk in Keplerian rotation, the estimated enclosed mass is M_BH = 1.2 x 10^7 M_sun, consistent with the expected mass for a SMBH in a LINER or Seyfert galaxy. The linear distribution of the maser components and a comparison with the high sensitivity GBT spectrum strongly suggest that the bulk of the maser emission is associated with an edge-on accretion disk. This makes IC485 a new candidate for a disk-maser galaxy at the distance of 122 Mpc. In particular, thanks to the upcoming radio facilities (e.g., the SKA and the ngVLA) IC485 will play an important role in our understanding of AGNs in an unexplored volume of Universe.