@article {2015A\&A...574A..85A, title = {{High resolution observations of HCN and HCO$^{+}$J = 3-2 in the disk and outflow of Mrk 231. Detection of vibrationally excited HCN in the warped nucleus}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {574}, year = {2015}, month = {feb}, pages = {A85}, abstract = {
Aims: Our goal is to study molecular gas properties in nuclei and large scale outflows/winds from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and starburst galaxies.
Methods: We obtained high resolution (0.{\#779}25 to 0.{\#779}90) observations of HCN and HCO$^{+}$J = 3 {\rarr} 2 of the ultraluminous QSO galaxy Mrk 231 with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI).
Results: We find luminous HCN and HCO$^{+}$J = 3 {\rarr} 2 emission in the main disk and we detect compact (r {\l}sim} 0{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}\&dotbelow;1 (90 pc)) vibrationally excited HCN J = 3 {\rarr} 2{$ν$}$_{2}$ = 1f emission centred on the nucleus. The velocity field of the vibrationally excited HCN is strongly inclined (position angle PA = 155{\deg}) compared to the east-west rotation of the main disk. The nuclear (r {\l}sim} 0.{\#779}1) molecular mass is estimated to 8 {\times} 10$^{8}$ M$_{\&sun;}$ with an average N(H$_{2}$) of 1.2 {\times} 10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. Prominent, spatially extended ({\gsim}350 pc) line wings are found for HCN J = 3 {\rarr} 2 with velocities up to {\plusmn} 750 km s$^{-1}$. Line ratios indicate that the emission is emerging in dense gas n = 10$^{4}$-5 {\times} 10$^{5}$ cm$^{-3}$ of elevated HCN abundance X(HCN) = 10$^{-8}$-10$^{-6}$. The highest X(HCN) also allows for the emission to originate in gas of more moderate density. We tentatively detect nuclear emission from the reactive ion HOC$^{+}$ with HCO$^{+}$/HOC$^{+}$ = 10-20.
Conclusions: The HCN {$ν$}$_{2}$ = 1f line emission is consistent with the notion of a hot, dusty, warped inner disk of Mrk 231 where the {$ν$}$_{2}$ = 1f line is excited by bright mid-IR 14 {$μ$}m continuum. We estimate the vibrational temperature T$_{vib}$ to 200-400 K. Based on relative source sizes we propose that 50\% of the main HCN emission may have its excitation affected by the radiation field through IR pumping of the vibrational ground state. The HCN emission in the line wings, however, is more extended and thus likely not strongly affected by IR pumping. Our results reveal that dense clouds survive (and/or are formed) in the AGN outflow on scales of at least several hundred pc before evaporating or collapsing. The elevated HCN abundance in the outflow is consistent with warm chemistry possibly related to shocks and/or X-ray irradiated gas. An upper limit to the mass and momentum flux is 4 {\times} 10$^{8}$ M$_{\&sun;}$ and 12L$_{AGN}$/c, respectively, and we discuss possible driving mechanisms for the dense outflow. Based on observations carried out with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).The reduced data cubes are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/574/A85}, keywords = {galaxies: active, galaxies: evolution, galaxies: individual: Mrk 231, ISM: jets and outflows, ISM: molecules, quasars: general}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201423987}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A\%26A...574A..85A}, author = {Aalto, S. and S. Garc{\'\i}a-Burillo and Muller, S. and Winters, J.~M. and Gonzalez-Alfonso, E. and van der Werf, P. and Henkel, C. and F. Costagliola and Neri, R.} } @article {213, title = {{High-resolution imaging of the molecular outflows in two mergers: IRAS 17208-0014 and NGC 1614}}, journal = {Astronomy \& Astrophysics}, volume = {580}, year = {2015}, pages = {A35}, keywords = {galaxies: individual: IRAS 17208-0014, galaxies: individual: NGC1614, galaxies: ISM, galaxies: kinematics and dynamics, galaxies: nuclei, galaxies: starburst}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201526133}, author = {Garcia-Burillo, S. and Combes, F. and Usero, A. and Aalto, S. and Colina, L. and Alonso-Herrero, A. and Hunt, L.~K. and Arribas, S. and Costagliola, F. and Labiano, A. and Neri, R. and Pereira-Santaella, M. and Tacconi, L.~J. and van der Werf, P.~P.} } @article {2013A\&A...556A..66C, title = {{High-resolution mm and cm study of the obscured LIRG NGC 4418 . A compact obscured nucleus fed by in-falling gas?}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {556}, year = {2013}, month = {aug}, pages = {A66}, abstract = {Context. Understanding the nature of the power-source in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRG) is difficult due to their extreme obscuration. Observations at radio and mm wavelengths can penetrate large columns of dust and gas and provide unique insights into the properties of the compact obscured nuclei of LIRGs.
Aims: The aim of this study is to constrain the dynamics, structure, and feeding of the compact nucleus of NGC 4418, and to reveal the nature of the main hidden power-source: starburst or active galactic nucleus (AGN).
Methods: We obtained high spatial resolution observations of NGC 4418 at 1.4 and 5 GHz with MERLIN, and at 230 and 270 GHz with the SMA in very extended configuration. We used the continuum morphology and flux density to estimate the size of the emitting region, the star formation rate, and the dust temperature. Emission lines were used to study kinematics through position-velocity diagrams. Molecular emission was studied with population diagrams and by fitting a local thermal equilibrium (LTE) synthetic spectrum.
Results: We detect bright 1-mm-line emission from CO, HC$_{3}$N, HNC, and C$^{34}$S and 1.4 GHz absorption from HI. The CO 2-1 emission and HI absorption can be fit by two velocity components at 2090 and 2180 km s$^{-1}$. We detect vibrationally excited HC$_{3}$N and HNC, with T$_{vib}$ \~{} 300 K. Molecular excitation is consistent with a layered temperature structure, with three main components at 80, 160, and 300 K. For the hot component we estimate a source size of less than 5 pc. The nuclear molecular gas surface density of 10$^{4}$M$_{\&sun;}$ pc$^{-2}$ is extremely high and similar to that found in the ultra-luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) Arp220.
Conclusions: Our observations confirm the presence of a molecular and atomic in-flow, previously suggested by Herschel observations, which is feeding the activity in the center of NGC 4418. Molecular excitation confirms the presence of a very compact, hot dusty core. If a starburst is responsible for the observed IR flux, this has to be at least as extreme as the one in the ULIRG Arp 220, with an age of 3-10 Myr and a star formation rate {\gt}10 M$_{\&sun;}$ yr$^{-1}$. If an AGN is present, it must be extremely Compton-thick. Appendix A is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org}, keywords = {galaxies: active, galaxies: individual: NGC 4418, galaxies: ISM, galaxies: kinematics and dynamics, galaxies: starburst}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201220634}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013A\%26A...556A..66C}, author = {F. Costagliola and Aalto, S. and Sakamoto, K. and Mart{\'\i}n, S. and Beswick, R. and Muller, S. and Kl{\"o}ckner, H.-R.} } @article {221, title = {{High-resolution mm and cm study of the obscured LIRG NGC 4418 . A compact obscured nucleus fed by in-falling gas?}}, journal = {\aap}, volume = {556}, year = {2013}, pages = {A66}, keywords = {galaxies: active, galaxies: individual: NGC 4418, galaxies: ISM, galaxies: kinematics and dynamics, galaxies: starburst}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201220634}, author = {Costagliola, F. and Aalto, S. and Sakamoto, K. and Mart{\'\i}n, S. and Beswick, R. and Muller, S. and Kl{\"o}ckner, H.-R.} } @article {2012A\&A...544A..75A, title = {{High zenith angle observations of PKS 2155-304 with the MAGIC-I telescope}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {544}, year = {2012}, month = {aug}, pages = {A75}, abstract = {Context. The high frequency peaked BL Lac PKS 2155-304 with a redshift of z = 0.116 was discovered in 1997 in the very high energy (VHE, E {\gt} 100 GeV) {$\gamma$}-ray range by the University of Durham Mark VI {$\gamma$}-ray Cherenkov telescope in Australia with a flux corresponding to 20\% of the Crab Nebula flux. It was later observed and detected with high significance by the southern Cherenkov observatory H.E.S.S. establishing this source as the best studied southern TeV blazar. Detection from the northern hemisphere is difficult due to challenging observation conditions under large zenith angles. In July 2006, the H.E.S.S. collaboration reported an extraordinary outburst of VHE {$\gamma$}-emission. During the outburst, the VHE {$\gamma$}-ray emission was found to be variable on the time scales of minutes and with a mean flux of \~{}7 times the flux observed from the Crab Nebula. Follow-up observations with the MAGIC-I standalone Cherenkov telescope were triggered by this extraordinary outburst and PKS 2155-304 was observed between 28 July to 2 August 2006 for 15 h at large zenith angles.
Aims: We studied the behavior of the source after its extraordinary flare. Furthermore, we developed an analysis method in order to analyze these data taken under large zenith angles.
Methods: Here we present an enhanced analysis method for data taken at high zenith angles. We developed improved methods for event selection that led to a better background suppression.
Results: The quality of the results presented here is superior to the results presented previously for this data set: detection of the source on a higher significance level and a lower analysis threshold. The averaged energy spectrum we derived has a spectral index of (-3.5 {\plusmn} 0.2) above 400 GeV, which is in good agreement with the spectral shape measured by H.E.S.S. during the major flare on MJD 53 944. Furthermore, we present the spectral energy distribution modeling of PKS 2155-304. With our observations we increased the duty cycle of the source extending the light curve derived by H.E.S.S. after the outburst. Finally, we find night-by-night variability with a maximal amplitude of a factor three to four and an intranight variability in one of the nights (MJD 53 945) with a similar amplitude.}, keywords = {astroparticle physics, BL Lacertae objects: individual: PKS 2155-304, methods: data analysis}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201218796}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012A\%26A...544A..75A}, author = {Aleksi{\'c}, J. and Alvarez, E.~A. and Antonelli, L.~A. and Antoranz, P. and Asensio, M. and Backes, M. and Barres de Almeida, U. and Barrio, J.~A. and Bastieri, D. and Becerra Gonz{\'a}lez, J. and Bednarek, W. and Berdyugin, A. and Berger, K. and Bernardini, E. and Biland, A. and Blanch, O. and Bock, R.~K. and Boller, A. and Bonnoli, G. and Borla Tridon, D. and Braun, I. and Bretz, T. and Ca{\~n}ellas, A. and Carmona, E. and Carosi, A. and Colin, P. and Colombo, E. and Contreras, J.~L. and Cortina, J. and Cossio, L. and Covino, S. and Dazzi, F. and De Angelis, A. and De Caneva, G. and De Cea del Pozo, E. and De Lotto, B. and Delgado Mendez, C. and Diago Ortega, A. and Doert, M. and Dom{\'\i}nguez, A. and Dominis Prester, D. and Dorner, D. and Doro, M. and Eisenacher, D. and Elsaesser, D. and Ferenc, D. and Fonseca, M.~V. and Font, L. and Fruck, C. and Garc{\'\i}a L{\'o}pez, R.~J. and Garczarczyk, M. and Garrido, D. and Giavitto, G. and Godinovi{\'c}, N. and Gozzini, S.~R. and Hadasch, D. and H{\"a}fner, D. and Herrero, A. and Hildebrand, D. and H{\"o}hne-M{\"o}nch, D. and Hose, J. and Hrupec, D. and Jogler, T. and Kellermann, H. and Klepser, S. and Kr{\"a}henb{\"u}hl, T. and Krause, J. and Kushida, J. and La Barbera, A. and Lelas, D. and Leonardo, E. and Lewandowska, N. and Lindfors, E. and Lombardi, S. and L{\'o}pez, M. and L{\'o}pez, R. and L{\'o}pez-Oramas, A. and Lorenz, E. and Makariev, M. and Maneva, G. and Mankuzhiyil, N. and Mannheim, K. and Maraschi, L. and Marcote, B. and Mariotti, M. and Mart{\'\i}nez, M. and Mazin, D. and Meucci, M. and Miranda, J.~M. and Mirzoyan, R. and Mold{\'o}n, J. and Moralejo, A. and Munar-Adrover, P. and Niedzwiecki, A. and Nieto, D. and Nilsson, K. and Nowak, N. and Orito, R. and Paiano, S. and Paneque, D. and Paoletti, R. and Pardo, S. and Paredes, J.~M. and Partini, S. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Persic, M. and Peruzzo, L. and Pilia, M. and Pochon, J. and Prada, F. and Prada Moroni, P.~G. and Prandini, E. and Puerto Gimenez, I. and Puljak, I. and Reichardt, I. and Reinthal, R. and Rhode, W. and Rib{\'o}, M. and Rico, J. and R{\"u}gamer, S. and Saggion, A. and Saito, K. and Saito, T.~Y. and Salvati, M. and Satalecka, K. and Scalzotto, V. and Scapin, V. and Schultz, C. and Schweizer, T. and Shayduk, M. and Shore, S.~N. and Sillanp{\"a}{\"a}, A. and Sitarek, J. and Snidaric, I. and Sobczynska, D. and Spanier, F. and Spiro, S. and Stamatescu, V. and Stamerra, A. and Steinke, B. and Storz, J. and Strah, N. and Sun, S. and Suri{\'c}, T. and Takalo, L. and Takami, H. and Tavecchio, F. and Temnikov, P. and Terzi{\'c}, T. and Tescaro, D. and Teshima, M. and Tibolla, O. and Torres, D.~F. and Treves, A. and Uellenbeck, M. and Vankov, H. and Vogler, P. and Wagner, R.~M. and Weitzel, Q. and Zabalza, V. and Zandanel, F. and Zanin, R.} } @article {2011A\&A...527A..69A, title = {{H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ line emission from starbursts and AGNs}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {527}, year = {2011}, month = {mar}, pages = {A69}, abstract = {Context. The H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ molecule probes the chemistry and the ionization rate of dense circumnuclear gas in galaxies.
Aims: We use the H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ molecule to investigate the impact of starburst and AGN activity on the chemistry of the molecular interstellar medium.
Methods: Using the JCMT, we have observed the 3$_{2}$$^{+}$ - 2$_{2}$$^{+}$ 364 GHz line of p-H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ towards the centres of seven active galaxies.
Results: We have detected p-H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ towards IC 342, NGC 253, NGC 1068, NGC 4418, and NGC 6240. Upper limits were obtained for IRAS 15250 and Arp 299. We find large H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ abundances (N(H$_{3}$O$^{+}$)/N(H$_{2}$) {\gsim} 10$^{-8}$) in all detected galaxies apart from in IC 342 where it is about one order of magnitude lower. We note, however, that uncertainties in N(H$_{3}$O$^{+}$) may be significant due to lack of definite information on source size and excitation. We furthermore compare the derived N(H$_{3}$O$^{+}$) with N(HCO$^{+}$) and find that the H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ to HCO$^{+}$ column density ratio is large in NGC 1068 (24), moderate in NGC 4418 and NGC 253 (4-5), slightly less than unity in NGC 6240 (0.7) and lowest in IC 342 (0.2-0.6). We compare our results with models of X-ray and photon dominated regions (XDRs and PDRs).
Conclusions: For IC 342 we find that a starburst PDR chemistry can explain the observed H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ abundance. For the other galaxies, the large H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ columns are generally consistent with XDR models. In particular for NGC 1068 the elevated N(H$_{3}$O$^{+}$)/N(HCO$^{+}$) ratio suggests a low column density XDR. For NGC 4418 however, large HC$_{3}$N abundances are inconsistent with the XDR interpretation. An alternative possibility is that H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ forms through H$_{2}$O evaporating off dust grains and reacting with HCO$^{+}$ in warm, dense gas. This scenario could also potentially fit the results for NGC 253. Further studies of the excitation and distribution of H$_{3}$O$^{+}$ - as well as Herschel observations of water abundances - will help to further constrain the models.}, keywords = {galaxies: active, galaxies: evolution, galaxies: starburst, ISM: molecules, radio lines: galaxies}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201015878}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011A\%26A...527A..69A}, author = {Aalto, S. and F. Costagliola and van der Tak, F. and Meijerink, R.} }