MICONIC

Author(s): A. Alonso Herrero, L. Hermosa Muñoz, A. Labiano, P. Guillard, V. A. Buiten, D. Dicken, P. Van Der Werf, J. Álvarez-Márquez, T. Böker, L. Colina, A. Eckart, M. García-Marín, O. C. Jones, L. Pantoni, P. G. Pérez-González, D. Rouan, M. J. Ward, M. Baes, G. Östlin, P. Royer, G. S. Wright, M. Güdel, Th Henning, P. O. Lagage, E. F. Van Dishoeck
Abstract: We present JWST/MIRI MRS spatially resolved ∼5-28 μm observations of the central ∼4-8 kpc of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy and broad absorption line quasar Mrk 231. These are part of the Mid-Infrared Characterization of Nearby Iconic galaxy Centers (MICONIC) program of the MIRI European Consortium guaranteed time observations. No high excitation lines (i.e., [Mg V] at 5.61 μm or [Ne V] at 14.32 μm) typically associated with the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) are detected in the nuclear region of Mrk 231. This is likely due to the intrinsically X-ray weak nature of its quasar. Some intermediate ionization potential lines, for instance, [Ar III] at 8.99 μm and [S IV] at 10.51 μm, are not detected either, even though they are clearly observed in a star-forming region ∼920 pc south-east of the AGN. Thus, the strong nuclear mid-infrared (mid-IR) continuum is also in part hampering the detection of faint lines in the nuclear region. The nuclear [Ne III]/[Ne II] line ratio is consistent with values observed in star-forming galaxies. Moreover, we resolve for the first time the nuclear starburst in the mid-IR low-excitation line emission (size of ∼400 pc, FWHM). Several pieces of evidence also indicate that it is partly obscured even at these wavelengths. At the AGN position, the ionized and warm molecular gas emission lines have modest widths (W₈₀ ∼ 300 km s^-1). There are, however, weak blueshifted wings reaching velocities v₀₂ ≃ -400 km s^-1 in [Ne II]. The nuclear starburst is at the center of a large (∼8 kpc), massive rotating disk with widely-spread, low velocity outflows. Given the high star formation rate of Mrk 231, we speculate that part of the nuclear outflows and the large-scale non-circular motions observed in the mid-IR are driven by its powerful nuclear starburst.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), ESAC España, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75005, France., Sorbonne Université CNRS, Leiden University, The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, European Space Agency (ESA), Baltimore, Universität zu Köln, Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Ghent University , Université de recherche Paris Sciences et Lettres, Durham University, Oskar Klein Centre, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Université Paris Saclay
Journal: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume: 690
No. of pages: 21
ISSN: 0004-6361
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450071
Publication date: 10-2024
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e5d2695c-d08d-481d-bca4-fec5d9c5808b

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