Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

A 10^10 Solar Mass Flow of Molecular Gas in the A1835 Brightest Cluster Galaxy

McNamara, B.R.; Russell, H.R.; Nulsen, P.E.J.; Edge, A.C.; Murray, N.W.; Main, R.A.; Vantyghem, A.N.; Combes, F.; Fabian, A.C.; Salome, P.; Kirkpatrick, C.C.; Baum, S.A.; Bregman, J.N.; Donahue, M.; Egami, E.; Hamer, S.; O'Dea, C.P.; Oonk, J.B.R.; Tremblay, G.; Voit, G.M.

A 10^10 Solar Mass Flow of Molecular Gas in the A1835 Brightest Cluster Galaxy Thumbnail


Authors

B.R. McNamara

H.R. Russell

P.E.J. Nulsen

N.W. Murray

R.A. Main

A.N. Vantyghem

F. Combes

A.C. Fabian

P. Salome

C.C. Kirkpatrick

S.A. Baum

J.N. Bregman

M. Donahue

E. Egami

S. Hamer

C.P. O'Dea

J.B.R. Oonk

G. Tremblay

G.M. Voit



Abstract

We report ALMA Early Science observations of the A1835 brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the CO (3-2) and CO (1-0) emission lines. We detect 5 × 1010 M ☉ of molecular gas within 10 kpc of the BCG. Its ensemble velocity profile width of ~130 km s–1 FWHM is too narrow for the molecular clouds to be supported in the galaxy by dynamic pressure. The gas may instead be supported in a rotating, turbulent disk oriented nearly face-on. Roughly 1010 M ☉ of molecular gas is projected 3-10 kpc to the northwest and to the east of the nucleus with line-of-sight velocities lying between –250 km s–1 and +480 km s–1 with respect to the systemic velocity. The high-velocity gas may be either inflowing or outflowing. However, the absence of high-velocity gas toward the nucleus that would be expected in a steady inflow, and its bipolar distribution on either side of the nucleus, are more naturally explained as outflow. Star formation and radiation from the active galactic nucleus (AGN) are both incapable of driving an outflow of this magnitude. The location of the high-velocity gas projected behind buoyantly rising X-ray cavities and favorable energetics suggest an outflow driven by the radio AGN. If so, the molecular outflow may be associated with a hot outflow on larger scales reported by Kirkpatrick and colleagues. The molecular gas flow rate of approximately 200 M ☉ yr–1 is comparable to the star formation rate of 100-180 M ☉ yr–1 in the central disk. How radio bubbles would lift dense molecular gas in their updrafts, how much gas will be lost to the BCG, and how much will return to fuel future star formation and AGN activity are poorly understood. Our results imply that radio-mechanical (radio-mode) feedback not only heats hot atmospheres surrounding elliptical galaxies and BCGs, but it is able to sweep higher density molecular gas away from their centers.

Citation

McNamara, B., Russell, H., Nulsen, P., Edge, A., Murray, N., Main, R., …Voit, G. (2014). A 10^10 Solar Mass Flow of Molecular Gas in the A1835 Brightest Cluster Galaxy. Astrophysical Journal, 785(1), Article 44. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/785/1/44

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 5, 2014
Online Publication Date Mar 25, 2014
Publication Date Apr 10, 2014
Deposit Date Apr 4, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 785
Issue 1
Article Number 44
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/785/1/44
Keywords Galaxies: active, Galaxies: clusters: general, Galaxies: clusters: individual (A1835), Galaxies: star formation, ISM: jets and outflows, ISM: molecules.

Files

Published Journal Article (1.4 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
© 2014. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations