arXiv subjects

Dieu D. Nguyen

Publications and source records attributed to Dieu D. Nguyen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Dot to dot: high-$z$ little red dots in $M_{\rm bh}$-$M_{\rm \star}$ diagrams with galaxy-morphology-specific scaling relations

The high redshift 'little red dots' (LRDs) detected with the James Webb Space Telescope are considered to be the cores of emerging galaxies that host active galactic nuclei (AGN). For the first time, we compare LRDs with local compact stellar systems and an array of galaxy-morphology-dependent stellar mass-black hole mass scaling relations in the $M_{\rm bh}$-$M_{\star}$ diagrams. When considering the 2023-2024 masses for LRDs, they are not equivalent to nuclear star clusters (NSCs), with the latter having higher $M_{\rm bh}/M_{\star}$ ratios. However, the least massive LRDs exhibit similar $M_{\rm bh}$ and $M_{\rm \star,gal}$ values as ultracompact dwarf (UCD) galaxies, believed to be the cores of stripped/threshed galaxies. We show that the LRDs span the $M_{\rm bh}$-$M_{\rm \star,gal}$ diagram from UCD galaxies to primaeval lenticular galaxies. In contrast, local spiral galaxies and the subset of major-merger-built early-type galaxies define $M_{\rm bh}$-$M_{\star,gal}$ relations that are offset to higher stellar masses. Based on the emerging 2025 masses for LRDs, they may yet have similarities with NSCs, UCD galaxies, and green peas. Irrespective of this developing situation, we additionally observe that low-redshift galaxies with AGN align with the quasi-quadratic or steeper black hole scaling relations defined by local disc galaxies with directly measured black hole masses. This highlights the benefits of considering a galaxy's morphology - which reflects its accretion and merger history - to understand the coevolution of galaxies and their black holes. Future studies of spatially-resolved galaxies with secure masses at intermediate-to-high redshift hold the promise of detecting the emergence and evolution of the galaxy-morphology-dependent $M_{\rm bh}$-$M_{\star}$ relations.

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arXiv2024

Numerical modeling of thermal dust polarization from aligned grains in the envelope of evolved stars with updated POLARIS

Magnetic fields are thought to influence the formation and evolution of circumstellar envelopes around evolved stars. Thermal dust polarization from aligned grains is a promising tool for probing magnetic fields and dust properties in these environments; however, a quantitative study on the dependence of thermal dust polarization on the physical properties of dust and magnetic fields for these circumstellar environments is still lacking. In this paper, we first perform the numerical modeling of thermal dust polarization in the IK Tau envelope using the magnetically enhanced radiative torque (MRAT) alignment mechanism implemented in our updated POLARIS code, accounting for the effect of grain drift relative to the gas. Despite experiencing grain drift and high gas density $n_{\rm gas} > 10^6\,\rm cm^{-3}$, the minimum grain size required for efficient MRAT alignment of silicate grains is $\sim 0.007 - 0.05\,\rmμm$ due to strong stellar radiation fields. Ordinary paramagnetic grains can achieve perfect alignment by MRAT in the inner envelope of $r < 500\,\rm au$ due to stronger magnetic fields of $B\sim10$ mG - 1G, producing the polarization degree of $\sim10\%$. The polarization degree can be enhanced to $\sim20-40\%$ for superparamagnetic grains with embedded iron inclusions. The magnetic field geometry affects the resulting polarization degree due to the projection effect. We investigate the effect of rotational disruption by RATs (RAT-D) and find that the RAT-D effect decreases the dust polarization degree due to the decrease in the maximum grain size. Our modeling results motivate further observational studies at far-infrared/sub-millimeter to constrain the properties of magnetic fields and dust in evolved star's envelopes.

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arXiv2024

Mapping and characterizing magnetic fields in the Rho Ophiuchus-A molecular cloud with SOFIA/HAWC$+$

(abridged) Together with gravity, turbulence, and stellar feedback, magnetic fields (B-fields) are thought to play a critical role in the evolution of molecular clouds and star formation processes. We aim to map the morphology and measure the strength of B-fields of the nearby molecular cloud, rho Ophiuchus-A ($ρ$ Oph-A), and then to understand the role of B-fields in regulating star formation and shaping the cloud. We have analyzed the far-infrared (FIR) polarization of thermal dust emission observed by SOFIA/HAWC$+$ at 89 and 154 $μ$m toward the densest part of $ρ$ Oph-A, which is irradiated by the nearby B3/4 star, Oph-S1. The cloud exhibits well-ordered B-fields with magnetic orientations mainly perpendicular to the ridge of the cloud toward the densest region and B-field strengths are in the range of 0.2-2.5 mG, using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method. The B-fields are strongest at the densest part of the cloud, which is associated with the starless core SM1, and decreases toward the outskirts of the cloud. By calculating the map of the mass-to-flux ratio, Alfvén Mach number, and plasma $β$ parameter in $ρ$ Oph-A, we find that the cloud is predominantly magnetically sub-critical, sub-Alfvénic, which implies that the cloud is supported by strong B-fields that dominate over gravity, turbulence, and thermal gas energy. Measured B-field strengths at two densest subregions using other methods that account for the compressible mode are relatively lower than that measured with the DCF method but do not significantly change our conclusions on the roles of B-fields relative to gravity and turbulence on star formation. A virial analysis suggests that the cloud is gravitationally unbound. We find that B-fields are sufficiently strong to support the cloud against radiative feedback and to regulate the shape of the cloud.

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arXiv2023

Simulating supermassive black hole mass measurements for a sample of ultra massive galaxies using ELT/HARMONI high spatial resolution integral-field stellar kinematics

As the earliest relics of star formation episodes of the Universe, the most massive galaxies are the key to our understanding of the stellar population, cosmic structure, and SMBH evolution. However, the details of their formation histories remain uncertain. We address these problems by planning a large survey sample of 101 ultramassive galaxies ($z\le0.3$, $|δ+24^{\circ}|<45$°, $|b|>8$°), including 76\% ellipticals, 17\% lenticulars, and 7\% spirals brighter than $M_K\le-27$~mag (stellar mass $2\times10^{12}\lesssim M_\star\lesssim5\times10^{12}$~\Msun) with ELT/HARMONI. Our sample comprises diverse galaxy environments ranging from isolated to dense-cluster galaxies. The primary goals of the project are to (1) explore the stellar dynamics inside galaxy nuclei and weigh SMBHs, (2) constrain the black hole scaling relations at the highest mass, and (3) probe the late-time assembly of these most massive galaxies through the stellar population and kinematical gradients. We describe the survey, discuss the distinct demographics and environmental properties of the sample, and simulate their HARMONI $I_z$, $I_z+J$, and $H+K$-band observations via combining the inferred stellar-mass models from Pan-STARRS observations, an assumed synthetic spectrum of stars, and SMBHs with masses estimated based on different black hole scaling relations. Our simulations produce excellent state-of-art IFS and stellar kinematics ($ΔV_{\rm rms}\lesssim1.5$\%) in a relatively short exposure time. We use these stellar kinematics in combination with the JAM to reconstruct the SMBH mass and its error using the MCMC simulation. Thus, these simulations and modelings can be benchmarks to evaluate the instrument models and pipelines dedicated to HARMONI to exploit the unprecedented capabilities of ELT.

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arXiv2023

B-fields And dust in interstelLar fiLAments using Dust POLarization (BALLAD-POL): I. The massive filament G11.11-0.12 observed by SOFIA/HAWC+

We report the first measurement of polarized thermal dust emission toward the entire early and massive Infrared Dark Cloud G11.11$-$0.12 taken by the polarimeter SOFIA/HAWC+ at 214 $μm$ wavelength. Magnetic fields (B-fields) obtained from the polarized emission tend to be perpendicular to the filament's spine. We produce a map of B-field strengths for the center region of the filament. The strengths vary in the range of 100-600 $μ\rm{G}$ and are strongest along the filament's spine. The central region is sub-Alfvénic and mostly sub-critical meaning that B-fields dominate over turbulence and are strong enough to resist gravitational collapse. The alignment and properties of dust grains are studied in the filament using the RAdiative Torque (RAT) theory. We find the decrease of polarization degree $P$ with emission intensity $I$, i.e., depolarization effect, of the form $P\propto I^{-α}$ with $α\sim$0.8-0.9, implying a significant loss of grain alignment in the filament's spine. The depolarization can be explained by the decrease in RAT alignment efficiency toward the denser regions with lower dust temperature, and cannot be explained by the B-field tangling. We study the effect of the enhanced magnetic relaxation by embedded iron inclusions on RAT alignment and find that the high polarization fraction $P\sim$20-30\% in the outer layer of the filament is potential evidence for the enhanced RAT alignment by magnetic relaxation. This is the first time this effect is evaluated in a filament. Based on the polarization fraction and RAT alignment theory, we find evidence for grain growth in the filament.

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arXiv2023

Effect of the initial mass function on the dynamical SMBH mass estimate in the nucleated early-type galaxy FCC 47

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and nuclear star clusters (NSCs) co-exist in many galaxies. While the formation history of the black hole is essentially lost, NSCs preserve their evolutionary history imprinted onto their stellar populations and kinematics. Studying SMBHs and NSCs in tandem might help us to ultimately reveal the build-up of galaxy centres. In this study, we combine large-scale VLT/MUSE and high-resolution adaptive-optics-assisted VLT/SINFONI observations of the early-type galaxy FCC 47 with the goal being to assess the effect of a spatially (non-)variable initial mass function (IMF) on the determination of the mass of the putative SMBH in this galaxy. We achieve this by performing DYNAMITE Schwarzschild orbit-superposition modelling of the galaxy and its NSC. In order to properly take account of the stellar mass contribution to the galaxy potential, we create mass maps using a varying stellar mass-to-light ratio derived from single stellar population models with fixed and with spatially varying IMFs. Using the two mass maps, we estimate black hole masses of $(7.1^{+0.8}_{-1.1})\times 10^7\,M_{\odot}$ and $(4.4^{+1.2}_{-2.1}) \times 10^7\,M_{\odot}$ at $3σ$ signifance, respectively. Compared to models with constant stellar-mass-to-light ratio, the black hole masses decrease by 15% and 48%, respectively. Therefore, a varying IMF, both in its functional form and spatially across the galaxy, has a non-negligible effect on the SMBH mass estimate. Furthermore, we find that the SMBH in FCC 47 has probably not grown over-massive compared to its very over-massive NSC.

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arXiv2022

WISDOM Project XII. Clump properties and turbulence regulated by clump-clump collisions in the dwarf galaxy NGC404

We present a study of molecular structures (clumps and clouds) in the dwarf galaxy NGC 404 using high-resolution (0.86x0.51 pc^2) Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array ^{12}CO(2-1) observations. We find two distinct regions in NGC 404: a gravitationally-stable central region (Toomre parameter Q=3-30) and a gravitationally-unstable molecular ring (Q<=1). The molecular structures in the central region have a steeper size -- linewidth relation and larger virial parameters than those in the molecular ring, suggesting gas is more turbulent in the former. In the molecular ring, clumps exhibit a shallower mass -- size relation and larger virial parameters than clouds, implying density structures and dynamics are regulated by different physical mechanisms at different spatial scales. We construct an analytical model of clump-clump collisions to explain the results in the molecular ring. We propose that clump-clump collisions are driven by gravitational instabilities coupled with galactic shear, that lead to a population of clumps whose accumulation lengths (i.e. average separations) are approximately equal to their tidal radii. Our model-predicted clump masses and sizes (and mass -- size relation) and turbulence energy injection rates (and size -- linewidth relation) match the observations in the molecular ring very well, suggesting clump-clump collisions is the main mechanism regulating clump properties and gas turbulence in that region. As expected, our collision model does not apply to the central region, where turbulence is likely driven by clump migration.

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arXiv2022

Modeling extinction and reddening effects by circumstellar dust in the Betelgeuse envelope in the presence of radiative torque disruption

Circumstellar dust is formed and evolved within the envelope of evolved stars, including Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) and Red Supergiant (RSG). The extinction of stellar light by circumstellar dust is vital for interpreting RSG/AGB observations and determining high-mass RSG progenitors of core-collapse supernovae. Nevertheless, circumstellar dust properties are not well understood. Modern understanding of dust evolution suggests that intense stellar radiation can radically change the dust properties across the circumstellar envelope through the RAdiative Torque Disruption (RAT-D) mechanism. In this paper, we study the impacts of RAT-D on the grain size distribution (GSD) of circumstellar dust and model its effects on photometric observations of $α$ Orionis (Betelgeuse). Due to the RAT-D effects, large grains formed in the dust formation zone are disrupted into smaller species of size $a < 0.5\,\rmμm$. Using the GSD constrained by the RAT-D effects, we model the visual extinction of background stars and Betelgeuse. We find that the extinction decreases at near-UV, optical, and infrared wavelengths while increasing at far-UV wavelengths. The resulting flux potentially reproduces the observation from the near-UV to near-IR range. Our results can be used to explain dust extinction and photometric observations toward other RSG/AGB stars.

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arXiv2022

Extremely Buried Nucleus of IRAS 17208$-$0014 Observed at Sub-Millimeter and Near-Infrared Wavelengths

The ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 17208$-$0014 is a late-stage merger that hosts a buried active galactic nucleus (AGN). To investigate its nuclear structure, we performed high spatial resolution ($\sim0.\!\!^{\prime\prime}04\sim32\,\mathrm{pc}$) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations in Band 9 ($\sim$450\,\micron\ or $\sim$660\,GHz), along with near-infrared AKARI spectroscopy in 2.5--5.0\,\micron. The Band 9 dust continuum peaks at the AGN location, and toward this position CO($J$=6--5) and CS($J$=14--13) are detected in absorption. Comparison with non-local thermal equilibrium calculations indicates that, within the central beam ($r\sim20\,\mathrm{pc}$), there exists a concentrated component that is dense ($10^7\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$) and warm ($>$200\,K) and has a large column density ($N_\mathrm{H_2}>10^{23}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$). The AKARI spectrum shows deep and broad CO ro-vibrational absorption at 4.67\,\micron. Its band profile is well reproduced with a similarly dense and large column but hotter ($\sim$1000\,K) gas. The region observed through absorption in the near-infrared is highly likely in the nuclear direction, as in the sub-millimeter, but with a narrower beam including a region closer to the nucleus. The central component is considered to possess a hot structure where vibrationally excited HCN emission originates. The most plausible heating source for the gas is X-rays from the AGN. The AKARI spectrum does not show other AGN signs in 2.5--4\,\micron, but this absence may be usual for AGNs buried in a hot mid-infrared core. Besides, based on our ALMA observations, we relate various nuclear structures of IRAS 17208$-$0014 that have been proposed in the literature.

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arXiv2021

Studying magnetic fields and dust in M17 using polarized thermal dust emission observed by SOFIA/HAWC+

We report the highest spatial resolution measurement of magnetic fields in M17 using thermal dust polarization taken by SOFIA/HAWC+ centered at 154 $μ$m wavelength. Using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method, we found the presence of strong magnetic fields of $980 \pm 230\;μ$G and $1665 \pm 885\;μ$G in lower-density (M17-N) and higher-density (M17-S) regions, respectively. The magnetic field morphology in M17-N possibly mimics the fields in gravitational collapse molecular cores while in M17-S the fields run perpendicular to the matter structure and display a pillar and an asymmetric hourglass shape. The mean values of the magnetic field strength are used to determine the Alfvénic Mach numbers ($\mathcal{M_A}$) of M17-N and M17-S which turn out to be sub-Alfvénic, or magnetic fields dominate turbulence. We calculate the mass-to-flux ratio, $λ$, and obtain $λ=0.07$ for M17-N and $0.28$ for M17-S. The sub-critical values of $λ$ are in agreement with the lack of massive stars formed in M17. To study dust physics, we analyze the relationship between the dust polarization fraction, $p$, and the thermal emission intensity, $I$, gas column density, $N({\rm H_2})$, and dust temperature, $T_{\rm d}$. The polarization fraction decreases with intensity as $I^{-α}$ with $α= 0.51$. The polarization fraction also decreases with increasing $N(\rm H_{2})$, which can be explained by the decrease of grain alignment by radiative torques (RATs) toward denser regions with a weaker radiation field and/or tangling of magnetic fields. The polarization fraction tends to increase with $T_{\rm d}$ first and then decreases when $T_ {\rm d} > 50$ K. The latter feature seen in the M17-N, where the gas density changes slowly with $T_{d}$, is consistent with the RAT disruption effect.

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arXiv2021

Cross-checking SMBH mass estimates in NGC 6958 -- I: Stellar dynamics from adaptive optics-assisted MUSE observations

Supermassive black hole masses (MBH) can dynamically be estimated with various methods and using different kinematic tracers. Different methods have only been cross-checked for a small number of galaxies and often show discrepancies. To understand these discrepancies, detailed cross-comparisons of additional galaxies are needed. We present the first part of our cross-comparison between stellar- and gas-based MBH estimates in the nearby fast-rotating early-type galaxy NGC 6958. The measurements presented here are based on ground-layer adaptive optics-assisted Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) science verification data at around 0.6 arcsec spatial resolution. The spatial resolution is a key ingredient for the measurement and we provide a Gaussian parametrisation of the adaptive optics-assisted point spread function (PSF) for various wavelengths. From the MUSE data, we extracted the stellar kinematics and constructed dynamical models. Using an axisymmetric Schwarzschild technique, we measured an MBH of (3.6+2.7-2.4)\times 10^8 Msun at 3σsignificance taking kinematical and dynamical systematics (e.g.,radially-varying mass-to-light ratio) into account. We also added a dark halo, but our data does not allow to constrain the dark matter fraction. Adding dark matter with an abundance matching prior results in a 25 per cent more massive black hole. Jeans anisotropic models return MBH of (4.6+2.5-2.7) \times 10^8 Msun and (8.6+0.8-0.8) \times 10^8 Msun at 3σconfidence for spherical and cylindrical alignment of the velocity ellipsoid, respectively. In a follow-up study, we will compare the stellar-based MBH with those from cold and warm gas tracers, which will provide additional constraints for the MBH for NGC 6958, and insights into assumptions that lead to potential systematic uncertainty.

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arXiv2021

Resolved nuclear kinematics link the formation and growth of nuclear star clusters with the evolution of their early and late-type hosts

We present parsec-scale kinematics of eleven nearby galactic nuclei, derived from adaptive-optics assisted integral-field spectroscopy at (near-infrared) CO band-head wavelengths. We focus our analysis on the balance between ordered rotation and random motions, which can provide insights into the dominant formation mechanism of nuclear star clusters (NSCs). We divide our target sample into late- and early-type galaxies, and discuss the nuclear kinematics of the two sub-samples, aiming at probing any link between NSC formation and host galaxy evolution. The results suggest that the dominant formation mechanism of NSCs is indeed affected by the different evolutionary paths of their hosts across the Hubble sequence. More specifically, nuclear regions in late-type galaxies are on average more rotation dominated, and the formation of nuclear stellar structures is potentially linked to the presence of gas funnelled to the center. Early-type galaxies, in contrast, tend to display slower-rotating NSCs with lower ellipticity. However, some exceptions suggest that in specific cases, early-type hosts can form NSCs in a way similar to spirals.

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arXiv2021

The MBHBM$^{\star}$ Project -- II. Molecular Gas Kinematics in the Lenticular Galaxy NGC 3593 Reveal a Supermassive Black Hole

As part of the Measuring Black Holes in Below Milky Way-mass (M$^\star$) galaxies (MBHBM$^\star$) Project, we present a dynamical measurement of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass in the nearby lenticular galaxy NGC 3593, using cold molecular gas $^{12}$CO(2-1) emission observed at an angular resolution of $\approx0''.3$ ($\approx10$ pc) with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Our ALMA observations reveal a circumnuclear molecular gas disc (CND) elongated along the galaxy major axis and rotating around the SMBH. Using dynamical modelling, the molecular gas kinematics allow us to infer a SMBH mass $M_{\rm BH}=2.40_{-1.05}^{+1.87}\times10^6$ M$_\odot$ (only statistical uncertainties at the $3σ$ level). We also detect a massive core of cold molecular gas (CMC) of mass $M_{\rm CMC}=(5.4\pm1.2)\times10^6$ M$_\odot$ and effective (half-mass) radius $r_{\rm CMC,e}=11.2\pm2.8$ pc, co-spatial with a nuclear star cluster (NSC) of mass $M_{\rm NSC}=(1.67\pm0.48)\times10^7$ M$_\odot$ and effective radius $r_{\rm NSC,e}=5.0\pm1.0$~pc (or $0''.15\pm0''.03$). The mass profiles of the CMC and NSC are well described by Sérsic functions with indices $1-1.4$. Our $M_{\rm BH}$ and $M_{\rm NSC}$ estimates for NGC 3593 agree well with the recently compiled $M_{\rm BH}$-$M_{\rm NSC}$ scaling relation. Although the $M_{\rm NSC}$ uncertainty is twice the inferred $M_{\rm BH}$, the rapid central rise of the rotation velocities of the CND (as the radius decreases) clearly suggests a SMBH. Indeed, our dynamical models show that even if $M_{\rm NSC}$ is at the upper end of its allowed range, the evidence for a black hole does not vanish, but remains with a lower limit of $M_{\rm BH}>3\times10^5$ M$_\odot$.

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arXiv2021

Spatially Resolving the Star Formation Histories of Three Nearby Nuclear Star Clusters

The formation of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) remains an open question. In this work, we use spatially resolved HST/STIS spectroscopic observations of three nearby NSCs (hosted by NGC 5102, NGC 5206, and NGC 205) to constrain their formation histories by exploring radial variations of the stellar populations within each cluster. Utilizing full-spectrum fitting, we find substantial age and metallicity gradients within the central 0."9 (16~pc) of the NSC in NGC 5102 where populations near the center are young/metal-rich (age ~400~Myr and [M/H] ~-0.4) and become older/metal-poor at larger radii (mean age ~1~Gyr and mean [M/H] ~-1.6 in the radial range [0."3, 0."9]). This behavior suggests that the young/metal-rich population at the center was formed from a period of in situ formation, while the older/metal-poor populations were likely formed by inspiraled globular clusters. The two broad populations observed in the NGC 5102 NSC (young/metal-rich and old/metal-poor) appear to be linked to the transition between the two morphological components of the NSC derived from the surface-brightness profile in Nguyen et al. (2018)(arXiv:1711.04314). The radial ranges explored in NGC 5206 and NGC 205 were much smaller due to poor data quality; in NGC 5206 we find a similar metallicity gradient to NGC 5102 (but with much lower significance), while the data for NGC 205 is too poor to reach any conclusions. Overall, this data highlights the links between the morphological and stellar population complexity of NSCs and their formation mechanisms.

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arXiv2021

Hard X-ray Irradiation Potentially Drives Negative AGN Feedback by Altering Molecular Gas Properties

To investigate the role of active galactic nucleus (AGN) X-ray irradiation on the interstellar medium (ISM), we systematically analyzed Chandra and ALMA CO($J$=2-1) data for 26 ultra-hard X-ray ($>$ 10 keV) selected AGNs at redshifts below 0.05. While Chandra unveils the distribution of X-ray-irradiated gas via Fe-K$α$ emission, the CO($J$=2-1) observations reveal that of cold molecular gas. At high resolutions $\lesssim$ 1 arcsec, we derive Fe-K$α$ and CO($J$=2-1) maps for the nuclear 2 arcsec region, and for the external annular region of 2 arcsec-4 arcsec, where 2 arcsec is $\sim$ 100-600 pc for most of our AGNs. First, focusing on the external regions, we find the Fe-K$α$ emission for six AGNs above 2$σ$. Their large equivalent widths ($\gtrsim$ 1 keV) suggest a fluorescent process as their origin. Moreover, by comparing 6-7 keV/3-6 keV ratio, as a proxy of Fe-K$α$, and CO($J$=2-1) images for three AGNs with the highest significant Fe-K$α$ detections, we find a possible spatial separation. These suggest the presence of X-ray-irradiated ISM and the change in the ISM properties. Next, examining the nuclear regions, we find that (1) The 20-50 keV luminosity increases with the CO($J$=2-1) luminosity. (2) The ratio of CO($J$=2-1)-to-HCN($J$=1-0) luminosities increases with 20-50 keV luminosity, suggesting a decrease in the dense gas fraction with X-ray luminosity. (3) The Fe-K$α$-to-X-ray continuum luminosity ratio decreases with the molecular gas mass. This may be explained by a negative AGN feedback scenario: the mass accretion rate increases with gas mass, and simultaneously, the AGN evaporates a portion of the gas, which possibly affects star formation.

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arXiv2021

Black hole mass measurement using ALMA observations of [CI] and CO emissions in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC7469

We present a supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass measurement in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC7469 using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the atomic-${\rm [CI]}$(1-0) and molecular-$^{12}$CO(1-0) emission lines at the spatial resolution of $\approx0.3$" (or $\approx$ 100 pc). These emissions reveal that NGC7469 hosts a circumnuclear gas disc (CND) with a ring-like structure and a two-arm/bi-symmetric spiral pattern within it, surrounded by a starbursting ring. The CND has a relatively low $σ/V\approx0.35$ ($r\sim0.5$") and $\sim0.19$ ($r>0.5"$), suggesting that the gas is dynamically settled and suitable for dynamically deriving the mass of its central source. As is expected from X-ray dominated region (XDR) effects that dramatically increase an atomic carbon abundance by dissociating CO molecules, we suggest that the atomic [CI](1-0) emission is a better probe of SMBH masses than CO emission in AGNs. Our dynamical model using the ${\rm [CI]}$(1-0) kinematics yields a $M_{\rm BH}=1.78^{+2.69}_{-1.10}\times10^7$M$_\odot$ and $M/L_{\rm F547M}=2.25^{+0.40}_{-0.43}$ (M$_\odot$/L$_\odot$). The model using the CO(1-0) kinematics also gives a consistent $M_{\rm BH}$ with a larger uncertainty, up to an order of magnitude, i.e.\ $M_{\rm BH}=1.60^{+11.52}_{-1.45}\times10^7$M$_\odot$. This newly dynamical $M_{\rm BH}$ is $\approx$ 2 times higher than the mass determined from the reverberation mapped (RM) method using emissions arising in the unresolved broad-line region (BLR). Given this new $M_{\rm BH}$, we are able to constrain the specific RM dimensionless scaling factor of $f=7.2^{+4.2}_{-3.4}$ for the AGN BLR in NGC7469. The gas within the unresolved BLR thus has a Keplerian virial velocity component and the inclination of $i\approx11.0^\circ$$_{-2.5}^{+2.2}$, confirming its face-on orientation in a Seyfert 1 AGN by assuming a geometrically thin BLR model.

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arXiv2020

ALMA 0.02"-resolution observations reveal HCN-abundance-enhanced counter-rotating and outflowing dense molecular gas at the NGC 1068 nucleus

We present ALMA ~0.02"-resolution observations of the nucleus of the nearby (~14 Mpc) type-2 AGN NGC 1068 at HCN/HCO+/HNC J=3-2 lines, as well as at their 13C isotopologue and vibrationally excited lines, to scrutinize the morphological/dynamical/chemical/physical properties of dense molecular gas in the putative dusty molecular torus around a mass-accreting supermassive black hole. We confirm almost east-west-oriented dense molecular gas emission both morphologically and dynamically, which we regard as coming from the torus. Bright emission is compact (<3 pc), and low-surface-brightness emission extends out to 5-7 pc. These dense molecular gas properties are not symmetric between the eastern and western torus. The HCN J=3-2 emission is stronger than the HCO+ J=3-2 emission within the ~7 pc torus region, with an estimated dense molecular mass of (0.4-1.0)x10^6Msun. We interpret that HCN abundance is enhanced in the torus. We detect signatures of outflowing dense molecular gas and a vibrationally excited HCN J=3-2 line. Finally, we find that in the innermost (<1 pc) part of the torus, the dense molecular line rotation velocity, relative to the systemic velocity, is the opposite of that in the outer (>2 pc) part, in both the eastern and western torus. We prefer a scenario of counter-rotating dense molecular gas with innermost almost-Keplerian-rotation and outer slowly rotating (far below Keplerian) components. Our high-spatial-resolution dense molecular line data reveal that torus properties of NGC 1068 are much more complicated than the simple axi-symmetrically rotating torus picture in the classical AGN unification paradigm.

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arXiv2020

Revealing the intermediate-mass black hole at the heart of the dwarf galaxy NGC 404 with sub-parsec resolution ALMA observations

We estimate the mass of the intermediate-mass black hole at the heart of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 404 using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the molecular interstellar medium at an unprecedented linear resolution of ~0.5 pc, in combination with existing stellar kinematic information. These ALMA observations reveal a central disc/torus of molecular gas clearly rotating around the black hole. This disc is surrounded by a morphologically and kinematically complex flocculent distribution of molecular clouds, that we resolve in detail. Continuum emission is detected from the central parts of NGC 404, likely arising from the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of emission from dust around the nucleus, and potentially from dusty massive star-forming clumps at discrete locations in the disc. Several dynamical measurements of the black hole mass in this system have been made in the past, but they do not agree. We show here that both the observed molecular gas and stellar kinematics independently require a ~5x10$^5$ Msun black hole once we include the contribution of the molecular gas to the potential. Our best estimate comes from the high-resolution molecular gas kinematics, suggesting the black hole mass of this system is 5.5$^{+4.1}_{-3.8}\times$10$^5$ Msun (at the 99% confidence level), in good agreement with our revised stellar kinematic measurement and broadly consistent with extrapolations from the black hole mass - velocity dispersion and black hole mass - bulge mass relations. This highlights the need to accurately determine the mass and distribution of each dynamically important component around intermediate-mass black holes when attempting to estimate their masses.

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