paper

Large-Scale Outflows in Edge-on Seyfert Galaxies. I. Optical Emission- Line Imaging and Optical Spectroscopy

arXiv:astro-ph/9512169 · doi:10.1086/192307

Abstract

We have launched a search for large-scale ($\gapprox$1 kpc) minor-axis outflows in edge-on Seyfert galaxies in order to assess their frequency of occurrence and study their properties. Here we present optical continuum and \han2 line images and/or minor-axis long-slit spectra of 22 edge-on Seyfert galaxies. Six of these galaxies show at least one of the following: (i) bi-symmetric H halos extending along the minor axis, (ii) bright emission-line complexes at distances $\gapprox$4 kpc (in projection) out of the disk, and (iii) double-peaked emission-line profiles from the gas along the minor-axis, suggesting that a wind-blown bubble is present. Our results indicate that $\gapprox$ of Seyferts have good evidence for minor-axis galactic outflows. Kinetic luminosities of the galactic outflows in our sample Seyferts are 1010 erg~s, assuming all of the observed minor-axis emission is produced by the outflow. These values are, in general, 0.1 as large as those for well-studied cases of superwinds in starburst galaxies (Heckman, Armus \& Miley 1990). However, far-infrared luminosities of our sample Seyferts are also 0.1 as large. Both starburst-driven superwinds and wide-angled outflows from the active galactic nucleus are possible explanations for the observed large-scale outflows.

34 pages (text and tables) AASTEX, figures available from [email protected], ApJ Supp., June 1996

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