Discovery of a kinematically distinct component in the central region of the collisional ring galaxy AM0644-741

TL;DR

This study uncovers a distinct kinematic stellar component in the center of the collisional ring galaxy AM0644-741, revealing complex dynamics and possible AGN activity through combined HST imaging and MUSE IFU data.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes a kinematically distinct central stellar structure in a collisional ring galaxy using high-resolution imaging and integral field spectroscopy.

Findings

Discovery of a kinematically distinct inner stellar component.

Evidence of a rotating stellar structure with complex dynamics.

Indications of AGN activity in the galaxy's nucleus.

Abstract

We present the discovery of a peculiar central stellar structure in the collisional ring galaxy AM0644-741 using HST imaging and MUSE integral field unit (IFU) data. We identified two S\'ersic components with a S\'ersic index of 1.72 (inner part) and 1.11 (outer part) in the HST F814W band optical image using \textsc{Galfit}. We utilized the MUSE data cube to construct stellar line of sight velocity (V$_{\rm LOS}$), velocity dispersion ($\sigma_{\rm LOS}$), h$_3$ \& h$_4$ velocity moments, and stellar population age maps using the \textsc{GIST} pipeline for further investigating both S\'ersic components, which have a difference of $\sim$ 60 degrees in their position angle. The inner component, with an effective radius $\sim$1 kpc, shows a strong anticorrelation between V$_{\rm LOS}$/$\sigma_{\rm LOS}$ and h$_3$, indicating the presence of a rotating stellar structure. In addition, the inner component also shows a relatively higher velocity dispersion (average values reaching up to $\sim$240 km sec$^{-1}$) along with disky isophotes and stronger Mg~$b$ line strength, which all together highlight a peculiar dynamical state of AM0644-741's central region. Our analysis suggests that the recent encounter has had a smaller impact on the stellar orbits within the inner component. In contrast, it has specifically affected the stellar orbits of the progenitor's outer disk when forming the star-forming ring. The BPT analysis of the unresolved nuclear source shows a LINER-type ionization, hinting at AGN activity in the galaxy. Our study projects the dynamical evolution of collisional systems and provides scope for simulations to explore the central region in greater detail.