Mapping the "invisible" circumgalactic medium around a z $\sim$ 4.5 radio galaxy with MUSE

Abstract

In this paper we present Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integral field unit spectroscopic observations of the $\sim 70\times 30$ kpc${}^2$ Ly$\alpha$ halo around the radio galaxy 4C04.11 at $z=4.5077$. High-redshift radio galaxies (HzRGs) are hosted by some of the most massive galaxies known at any redshift and are unique markers of concomitant powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity and star formation episodes. We map the emission and kinematics of the Ly$\alpha$ across the halo as well as the kinematics and column densities of eight HI absorbing systems at $-3500<\Delta v<0$ km s${}^{-1}$. We find that the strong absorber at $\Delta v\sim 0\mathrm{km}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ has a high areal coverage ($30\times 30$ kpc${}^2$), being detected across a large extent of the Ly$\alpha$ halo, a significant column density gradient along the southwest to northeast direction, and a velocity gradient along the radio jet axis. We propose that the absorbing structure, which is also seen in CIV and NV absorption, represents an outflowing metal-enriched shell driven by a previous AGN or star formation episode within the galaxy and is now caught up by the radio jet, leading to jet-gas interactions. These observations provide evidence that feedback from AGN in some of the most massive galaxies in the early Universe may play an important role in redistributing material and metals in their environments.

37 pages, 28 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Revised to match language-edited version. Added 4 new references. Reran the fitting analysis after bug correction which brings minor changes to the reported values

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• An investigation of the circumgalactic medium around z~2.2 AGN with ACA and ALMA
• Revealing the Gas Recycling in the Circumgalactic Medium (CGM) Utilizing a Luminous Ly$\alpha$ Nebula Around a Type-II Quasar at z=2.6 with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI)