B2 0003+38A: a classical flat-spectrum radio quasar hosted by a rotation-dominated galaxy with a peculiar massive outflow

Abstract

We present a detailed analysis of the single-slit optical spectrum of the Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasar (FSRQ) B2 0003+38A, taken by the Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) on the Keck II telescope. This classical low-redshift FSRQ ($z=0.22911$, as measured from the stellar absorption lines) remains underexplored in its emission lines, though its broad-band continuum properties from radio to X-ray is well-studied. After removing the unresolved quasar nucleus and the starlight from the host galaxy, we obtain a spatially-resolved 2-D spectrum, which clearly shows three components, indicating a rotating disk, an extended emission line region (EELR) and an outflow. The bulk of the EELR, with a characteristic mass $M_{\mathrm{EELR}}\sim 10^7{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$, and redshifted by $v_{\mathrm{EELR}}\approx 120$ km s${}^{-1}$ with respect to the quasar systemic velocity, shows a one-sided structure stretching to a projected distance of $r_{\mathrm{EELR}}\sim 20$ kpc from the nucleus. The rotation curve of the rotating disk is well consistent with that of a typical galactic disk, suggesting that the FSRQ is hosted by a disk galaxy. This conclusion is in accordance with the facts that strong absorption in the HI 21-cm line was previously observed, and that Na I$\lambda \lambda 5891,5897$ and Ca II$\lambda \lambda 3934,3969$ doublets are detected in the optical ESI spectrum. B2 0003+38A will become the first FSRQ discovered to be hosted by a gas-rich disk galaxy, if this is confirmed by follow-up deep imaging and/or IFU mapping with high spatial resolution. These observations will also help unravel the origin of the EELR.

14gages, 14figures, ApJ published

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