Capturing dual AGN activity and kiloparsec-scale outflows in IRAS 20210+1121

The most standard scenario for the evolution of massive galaxies across cosmic time assumes a correspondence based on the interplay between active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback, which injects large amounts of energy into the host environment, and galaxy mergers, with their ability to trigger massive star formation events and accretion onto supermassive black holes. Interacting systems hosting AGN are useful laboratories for obtaining key insights into both phenomena. In this context, we present an analysis of the optical spectral properties of IRAS 20210+1121 (I20210), a merging system at z  =  0.056. According to X-ray data, this object comprises two interacting galaxies, each hosting an obscured AGN. The optical spectra confirm the presence of AGN features in both galaxies. In particular, we are able to provide a Seyfert classification for I20210 North. The spectrum of I20120 South shows broad blueshifted components associated with the most intense emission lines that indicate the presence of an ionized outflow, for which we derive a maximum velocity of ∼2000 km s-1, an extension of ∼2 kpc, and a mass rate of ∼0.6  M⊙ yr-1. We also report the existence of an ionized nebular component with v  ∼  1000 km s-1 at ∼6.5 kpc southwards of I20210 South, which can be interpreted as disrupted gas ejected from the host galaxy by the action of the outflow. I20120 therefore exhibits a double obscured AGN, with one of them showing evidence of ongoing events for AGN-powered outflows. Future spatially resolved spectroscopy will allow for an accurate mapping of the gas kinematics in this AGN pair and evaluate the impact of the outflow on both the interstellar medium and the galaxy environment

SUPER VII. morphology and kinematics of H α emission in AGN host galaxies at cosmic noon using SINFONI

\ua9 2023 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. We present spatially resolved H α properties of 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies at z ∼ 2 derived from the SUPER survey. These targets were observed with the adaptive optics capabilities of the SINFONI spectrograph, a near-infrared integral field spectrograph, that provided a median spatial resolution of 0.3 arcsec (∼2 kpc). We model the H α emission line profile in each pixel to investigate whether it traces gas in the narrow line region or if it is associated with star formation. To do this, we first investigate the presence of resolved H α emission after subtracting the AGN PSF. We find extended H α emission in 16 out of the 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies (76 per cent). Based on the BPT diagnostics, optical line flux ratios and line widths (FWHM), we show that the H α emission in five galaxies is ionized by the AGN (30 per cent), in four galaxies by star formation (25 per cent) and for the rest (45 per cent), the ionization source is unconstrained. Two galaxies show extended H α FWHM >600 km s−1, which is interpreted as a part of an AGN-driven outflow. Morphological and kinematic maps of H α emission in targets with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio suggest the presence of rotationally supported discs in six galaxies and possible presence of companions in four galaxies. In two galaxies, we find an anticorrelation between the locations of extended H α emission and [O III]-based ionized outflows, indicating possible negative feedback at play. However, in the majority of galaxies, we do not find evidence of outflows impacting H α-based star formation

SUPER VII. morphology and kinematics of H α emission in AGN host galaxies at cosmic noon using SINFONI

We present spatially resolved H α properties of 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies at z ∼ 2 derived from the SUPER survey. These targets were observed with the adaptive optics capabilities of the SINFONI spectrograph, a near-infrared integral field spectrograph, that provided a median spatial resolution of 0.3 arcsec (∼2 kpc). We model the H α emission line profile in each pixel to investigate whether it traces gas in the narrow line region or if it is associated with star formation. To do this, we first investigate the presence of resolved H α emission after subtracting the AGN PSF. We find extended H α emission in 16 out of the 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies (76 per cent). Based on the BPT diagnostics, optical line flux ratios and line widths (FWHM), we show that the H α emission in five galaxies is ionized by the AGN (30 per cent), in four galaxies by star formation (25 per cent) and for the rest (45 per cent), the ionization source is unconstrained. Two galaxies show extended H α FWHM >600 km s−1, which is interpreted as a part of an AGN-driven outflow. Morphological and kinematic maps of H α emission in targets with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio suggest the presence of rotationally supported discs in six galaxies and possible presence of companions in four galaxies. In two galaxies, we find an anticorrelation between the locations of extended H α emission and [O III]-based ionized outflows, indicating possible negative feedback at play. However, in the majority of galaxies, we do not find evidence of outflows impacting H α-based star formation

SUPER VII. morphology and kinematics of H α emission in AGN host galaxies at cosmic noon using SINFONI

We present spatially resolved H α properties of 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies at z ∼ 2 derived from the SUPER survey. These targets were observed with the adaptive optics capabilities of the SINFONI spectrograph, a near-infrared integral field spectrograph, that provided a median spatial resolution of 0.3 arcsec (∼2 kpc). We model the H α emission line profile in each pixel to investigate whether it traces gas in the narrow line region or if it is associated with star formation. To do this, we first investigate the presence of resolved H α emission after subtracting the AGN PSF. We find extended H α emission in 16 out of the 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies (76 per cent). Based on the BPT diagnostics, optical line flux ratios and line widths (FWHM), we show that the H α emission in five galaxies is ionized by the AGN (30 per cent), in four galaxies by star formation (25 per cent) and for the rest (45 per cent), the ionization source is unconstrained. Two galaxies show extended H α FWHM >600 km s−1, which is interpreted as a part of an AGN-driven outflow. Morphological and kinematic maps of H α emission in targets with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio suggest the presence of rotationally supported discs in six galaxies and possible presence of companions in four galaxies. In two galaxies, we find an anticorrelation between the locations of extended H α emission and [O III]-based ionized outflows, indicating possible negative feedback at play. However, in the majority of galaxies, we do not find evidence of outflows impacting H α-based star formation

SUPER VII. morphology and kinematics of H alpha emission in AGN host galaxies at cosmic noon using SINFONI

We present spatially resolved H α properties of 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies at z ∼ 2 derived from the SUPER survey. These targets were observed with the adaptive optics capabilities of the SINFONI spectrograph, a near-infrared integral field spectrograph, that provided a median spatial resolution of 0.3 arcsec (∼2 kpc). We model the H α emission line profile in each pixel to investigate whether it traces gas in the narrow line region or if it is associated with star formation. To do this, we first investigate the presence of resolved H α emission after subtracting the AGN PSF. We find extended H α emission in 16 out of the 21 type 1 AGN host galaxies (76 per cent). Based on the BPT diagnostics, optical line flux ratios and line widths (FWHM), we show that the H α emission in five galaxies is ionized by the AGN (30 per cent), in four galaxies by star formation (25 per cent) and for the rest (45 per cent), the ionization source is unconstrained. Two galaxies show extended H α FWHM >600 km s−1, which is interpreted as a part of an AGN-driven outflow. Morphological and kinematic maps of H α emission in targets with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio suggest the presence of rotationally supported discs in six galaxies and possible presence of companions in four galaxies. In two galaxies, we find an anticorrelation between the locations of extended H α emission and [O iii]-based ionized outflows, indicating possible negative feedback at play. However, in the majority of galaxies, we do not find evidence of outflows impacting H α-based star formation

Long dark gaps in the Ly β forest at z < 6: evidence of ultra-late reionization from XQR-30 spectra

We present a new investigation of the intergalactic medium near reionization using dark gaps in the Lyβ forest. With its lower optical depth, Lyβ offers a potentially more sensitive probe to any remaining neutral gas compared to the commonly used Lyα line. We identify dark gaps in the Lyβ forest using spectra of 42 QSOs at z em > 5.5, including new data from the XQR-30 VLT Large Programme. Approximately 40% of these QSO spectra exhibit dark gaps longer than 10 h -1 Mpc at z ≃ 5.8. By comparing the results to predictions from simulations, we find that the data are broadly consistent both with models where fluctuations in the Lyα forest are caused solely by ionizing ultraviolet background fluctuations and with models that include large neutral hydrogen patches at z < 6 due to a late end to reionization. Of particular interest is a very long (L = 28 h -1 Mpc) and dark (τ eff ≳ 6) gap persisting down to z ≃ 5.5 in the Lyβ forest of the z = 5.85 QSO PSO J025-11. This gap may support late reionization models with a volume-weighted average neutral hydrogen fraction of 〈x H I〉 ≳ 5% by z = 5.6. Finally, we infer constraints on 〈x H I〉 over 5.5 ≲ z ≲ 6.0 based on the observed Lyβ dark gap length distribution and a conservative relationship between gap length and neutral fraction derived from simulations. We find 〈x H I〉 ≤ 0.05, 0.17, and 0.29 at z ≃ 5.55, 5.75, and 5.95, respectively. These constraints are consistent with models where reionization ends significantly later than z = 6

I.Toward an unbiased study of ionized outflows in z similar to 2 active galactic nuclei: survey overview and sample characterization

Theoretical models of galaxy formation suggest that the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) is required to regulate the growth of its host galaxy through feedback mechanisms, produced by, for example, AGN-driven outflows. Although many observational studies have revealed that such outflows are common both at low and high redshift, a comprehensive picture is still missing. In particular, the peak epoch of galaxy assembly (1 <  z <  3) has been poorly explored so far, and current observations in this redshift range are mostly limited to targets with high chances to be in an outflowing phase. This paper introduces SUPER (a SINFONI Survey for Unveiling the Physics and Effect of Radiative feedback), an ongoing ESO’s VLT/SINFONI Large Programme. SUPER will perform the first systematic investigation of ionized outflows in a sizeable and blindly-selected sample of 39 X-ray AGN at z ∼ 2, which reaches high spatial resolutions (∼2 kpc) thanks to the adaptive optics-assisted IFS observations. The outflow morphology and star formation in the host galaxy will be mapped through the broad component of [O III]λ5007 and the narrow component of Hα emission lines. The main aim of our survey is to infer the impact of outflows on the on-going star formation and to link the outflow properties to a number of AGN and host galaxy properties. We describe here the survey characteristics and goals, as well as the selection of the target sample. Moreover, we present a full characterization of its multi-wavelength properties: we measure, via spectral energy distribution fitting of UV-to-FIR photometry, stellar masses (4 × 10^{9} -2 x 10^{11} M_{⊙}), star formation rates (25 − 680 M_{⊙} yr^{-1}) and AGN bolometric luminosities (2 × 10^{44} - 8 x 10^{47} erg s^{-1}), along with obscuring column densities (up to 2 × 10^{24} cm^{-2}) and luminosities in the hard 2 − 10 keV band (2 × 10^{43} - 6 x 10^{45} erg s^{-1}) derived through X-ray spectral analysis. Finally, we classify our AGN as jetted or non-jetted according to their radio and FIR emission

BAT AGN spectroscopic survey, XIX : type 1 versus type 2 AGN dichotomy from the point of view of ionized outflows

We present a detailed study of ionized outflows in a large sample of similar to 650 hard X-ray-detected active galactic neuclei (AGNs). Using optical spectroscopy from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS), we are able to reveal the faint wings of the [OIII] emission lines associated with outflows covering, for the first time, an unexplored range of low AGN bolometric luminosity at low redshift (z similar to 0.05). We test if and how the incidence and velocity of ionized outflow is related to AGN physical parameters: black hole mass (M-BH), gas column density (N-H), Eddington ratio (lambda(Edd)), [OIII], X-ray, and bolometric luminosities. We find a higher occurrence of ionized outflows in type 1.9 (55 per cent) and type 1 AGNs (46 per cent) with respect to type 2 AGNs (24 per cent). While outflows in type 2 AGNs are evenly balanced between blue and red velocity offsets with respect to the [OIII] narrow component, they are almost exclusively blueshifted in type 1 and type 1.9 AGNs. We observe a significant dependence between the outflow occurrence and accretion rate, which becomes relevant at high Eddington ratios [log(lambda(Edd)) greater than or similar to -1.7]. We interpret such behaviour in the framework of covering factor-Eddington ratio dependence. We do not find strong trends of the outflow maximum velocity with AGN physical parameters, as an increase with bolometric luminosity can be only identified when including samples of AGNs at high luminosity and high redshift taken from literature