Kinematics of the Nuclear Ionized Gas in the Radio Galaxy M84 (NGC 4374) | Zendy

Gary Bower | Zendy; R. F. Green | Zendy; A. C. Danks | Zendy; T. Gull | Zendy; S. R. Heap | Zendy; J. B. Hutchings | Zendy; C. L. Joseph | Zendy; M. E. Kaiser | Zendy; Randy A. Kimble | Zendy; S. B. Kraemer | Zendy; D. Weistrop | Zendy; B. E. Woodgate | Zendy; Don J. Lindler | Zendy; Robert Hill | Zendy; E. M. Malumuth | Zendy; Stefi A. Baum | Zendy; Vicki L. Sarajedini | Zendy; Timothy M. Heckman | Zendy; A. S. Wilson | Zendy; D. O. Richstone | Zendy

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Kinematics of the Nuclear Ionized Gas in the Radio Galaxy M84 (NGC 4374)

Author(s) -

Gary Bower,

R. F. Green,

A. C. Danks,

T. Gull,

S. R. Heap,

J. B. Hutchings,

C. L. Joseph,

M. E. Kaiser,

Randy A. Kimble,

S. B. Kraemer,

D. Weistrop,

B. E. Woodgate,

Don J. Lindler,

Robert Hill,

E. M. Malumuth,

Stefi A. Baum,

Vicki L. Sarajedini,

Timothy M. Heckman,

A. S. Wilson,

D. O. Richstone

Publication year - 1998

Publication title -

the astrophysical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376

H-Index - 489

eISSN - 1538-4357

pISSN - 0004-637X

DOI - 10.1086/311109

Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , space telescope imaging spectrograph , galaxy , supermassive black hole , astronomy , black hole (networking) , hubble space telescope , computer network , routing protocol , routing (electronic design automation) , computer science , link state routing protocol

We present optical long-slit spectroscopy of the nucleus of the nearby radiogalaxy M84 (NGC 4374 = 3C 272.1) obtained with the Space Telescope ImagingSpectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Our spectra revealthat the nuclear gas disk seen in WFPC2 imaging by Bower et al. (1997, ApJ,483, L33) is rotating rapidly. The velocity curve has an S-shape with a peakamplitude of 400 km/s at 0.1" = 8 pc from the nucleus. To model the observedgas kinematics, we construct a thin Keplerian disk model that fits the datawell if the rotation axis of the gas disk is aligned with the radio jet axis.These models indicate that the gas dynamics are driven by a nuclear compactmass of 1.5 x 10^9 Msun with an uncertainty range of (0.9 - 2.6) x 10^9 Msunand that the inclination of the disk with respect to the plane of the sky is 75- 85 degrees. Of this nuclear mass, only <= 2 x 10^7 Msun can possibly beattributed to luminous mass. Thus, we conclude that a dark compact mass (mostlikely a supermassive black hole) resides in the nucleus of M84.Comment: 13 pages (AASTeX), 5 figures, to appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

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