Excited molecular hydrogen around the Seyfert nuclei of NGC 3227 and 4151

B. R. Fernandez; A. J. Holloway; J. Meaburn; A. Pedlar; C. G. Mundell

doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x

Excited molecular hydrogen around the Seyfert nuclei of NGC 3227 and 4151

B. R. Fernandez, A. J. Holloway, J. Meaburn, A. Pedlar, C. G. Mundell

Department of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

High-resolution images of the nuclear regions of the Seyfert galaxies NGC 3227 and 4151 have been obtained in the H₂ 1-0 S(1) emission line (rest λ = 2.1218 μm) with the IRCAM3 camera on the 3.8-m UKIRT telescope. A 2arcsec elongation of the photoexcited H₂ is observed in NGC 3227 that is coincident with the optical nucleus. Combined with other observations, this indicates the presence of a molecular disc surrounding the active nucleus with the interior being photoexcited. A 2×2.5 arcsec² ring of excited H₂ centred on the nucleus is partially observed in NGC 4151. This is believed to be part of a circumnuclear torus that contains ionized, atomic and molecular gas in an onion-skin structure.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	319-324
Number of pages	6
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	305
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x
Publication status	Published - 11 May 1999

Keywords

Galaxies: individual: NGC 3227
Galaxies: individual: NGC 4151
Galaxies: nuclei
Galaxies: Seyfert
Infrared: galaxies
Molecular processes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x

Cite this

@article{466a8ab242b446c7ae5ce83ec1b265fc,

title = "Excited molecular hydrogen around the Seyfert nuclei of NGC 3227 and 4151",

abstract = "High-resolution images of the nuclear regions of the Seyfert galaxies NGC 3227 and 4151 have been obtained in the H2 1-0 S(1) emission line (rest λ = 2.1218 μm) with the IRCAM3 camera on the 3.8-m UKIRT telescope. A 2arcsec elongation of the photoexcited H2 is observed in NGC 3227 that is coincident with the optical nucleus. Combined with other observations, this indicates the presence of a molecular disc surrounding the active nucleus with the interior being photoexcited. A 2×2.5 arcsec2 ring of excited H2 centred on the nucleus is partially observed in NGC 4151. This is believed to be part of a circumnuclear torus that contains ionized, atomic and molecular gas in an onion-skin structure.",

keywords = "Galaxies: individual: NGC 3227, Galaxies: individual: NGC 4151, Galaxies: nuclei, Galaxies: Seyfert, Infrared: galaxies, Molecular processes",

author = "Fernandez, {B. R.} and Holloway, {A. J.} and J. Meaburn and A. Pedlar and Mundell, {C. G.}",

year = "1999",

month = may,

day = "11",

doi = "10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x",

language = "English",

volume = "305",

pages = "319--324",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Excited molecular hydrogen around the Seyfert nuclei of NGC 3227 and 4151

AU - Fernandez, B. R.

AU - Holloway, A. J.

AU - Meaburn, J.

AU - Pedlar, A.

AU - Mundell, C. G.

PY - 1999/5/11

Y1 - 1999/5/11

N2 - High-resolution images of the nuclear regions of the Seyfert galaxies NGC 3227 and 4151 have been obtained in the H2 1-0 S(1) emission line (rest λ = 2.1218 μm) with the IRCAM3 camera on the 3.8-m UKIRT telescope. A 2arcsec elongation of the photoexcited H2 is observed in NGC 3227 that is coincident with the optical nucleus. Combined with other observations, this indicates the presence of a molecular disc surrounding the active nucleus with the interior being photoexcited. A 2×2.5 arcsec2 ring of excited H2 centred on the nucleus is partially observed in NGC 4151. This is believed to be part of a circumnuclear torus that contains ionized, atomic and molecular gas in an onion-skin structure.

AB - High-resolution images of the nuclear regions of the Seyfert galaxies NGC 3227 and 4151 have been obtained in the H2 1-0 S(1) emission line (rest λ = 2.1218 μm) with the IRCAM3 camera on the 3.8-m UKIRT telescope. A 2arcsec elongation of the photoexcited H2 is observed in NGC 3227 that is coincident with the optical nucleus. Combined with other observations, this indicates the presence of a molecular disc surrounding the active nucleus with the interior being photoexcited. A 2×2.5 arcsec2 ring of excited H2 centred on the nucleus is partially observed in NGC 4151. This is believed to be part of a circumnuclear torus that contains ionized, atomic and molecular gas in an onion-skin structure.

KW - Galaxies: individual: NGC 3227

KW - Galaxies: individual: NGC 4151

KW - Galaxies: nuclei

KW - Galaxies: Seyfert

KW - Infrared: galaxies

KW - Molecular processes

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0039885519&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x

DO - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02406.x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0039885519

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 305

SP - 319

EP - 324

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 2

ER -

Excited molecular hydrogen around the Seyfert nuclei of NGC 3227 and 4151

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this