The multi-phase winds of Markarian 231: from the hot, nuclear, ultra-fast wind to the galaxy-scale, molecular outflow

C. Feruglio; F. Fiore; S. Carniani; E. Piconcelli; L. Zappacosta; A. Bongiorno; C. Cicone; R. Maiolino; A. Marconi; N. Menci; S. Puccetti; S. Veilleux

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526020

paper

The multi-phase winds of Markarian 231: from the hot, nuclear, ultra-fast wind to the galaxy-scale, molecular outflow

arXiv:1503.01481 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526020

Abstract

We present the best sensitivity and angular resolution maps of the molecular disk and outflow of Mrk 231, as traced by CO observations obtained with IRAM/PdBI, and we analyze archival Chandra and NuSTAR observations. We constrain the physical properties of both the molecular disk and outflow, the presence of a highly-ionized ultra-fast nuclear wind, and their connection. The molecular outflow has a size of ~1 kpc, and extends in all directions around the nucleus, being more prominent along the south-west to north-east direction, suggesting a wide-angle biconical geometry. The maximum projected velocity of the outflow is nearly constant out to ~1 kpc, thus implying that the density of the outflowing material decreases from the nucleus outwards as $r^{- 2}$ . This suggests that either a large part of the gas leaves the flow during its expansion or that the bulk of the outflow has not yet reached out to ~1 kpc, thus implying a limit on its age of ~1 Myr. We find $M ˙_{O F} = [500 - 1000] M_{⊙} y r^{- 1}$ and $E ˙_{k in, O F} = [7 - 10] \times 1 0^{43}$ erg s $^{- 1}$ . Remarkably, our analysis of the X-ray data reveals a nuclear ultra-fast outflow (UFO) with velocity -20000 km s $^{- 1}$ , $M ˙_{U F O} = [0.3 - 2.1] M_{⊙} y r^{- 1}$ , and momentum load $P ˙_{U F O} / P ˙_{r a d} = [0.2 - 1.6]$ .We find $E ˙_{k in, U F O} \sim E ˙_{k in, O F}$ as predicted for outflows undergoing an energy conserving expansion. This suggests that most of the UFO kinetic energy is transferred to mechanical energy of the kpc-scale outflow, strongly supporting that the energy released during accretion of matter onto super-massive black holes is the ultimate driver of giant massive outflows. We estimate a momentum boost $P ˙_{O F} / P ˙_{U F O} \approx [30 - 60]$ . The ratios $E ˙_{k in, U F O} / L_{b o l, A GN} = [1 - 5] %$ and $E ˙_{k in, O F} / L_{b o l, A GN} = [1 - 3] %$ agree with the requirements of the most popular models of AGN feedback.

16 pages, 17 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

The multi-phase winds of Markarian 231: from the hot, nuclear, ultra-fast wind to the galaxy-scale, molecular outflow

Abstract

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