Open AccessKinematics of ionized gas in the barred Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151
Author(s) -
Asif M. W.,
Mundell C. G.,
Pedlar A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08910.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , galaxy , ionization , spiral galaxy , plasma , bar (unit) , astronomy , ion , quantum mechanics , meteorology
We have determined the structure and kinematics of ionized gas in the weak oval bar of the archetypal Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 4151, using the TAURUS Fabry–Perot interferometer to simultaneously map the distribution and kinematics of Hβ emission. We also present broad‐band ultraviolet imaging of the host galaxy, obtained with XMM–Newton , which shows the detailed distribution of star formation in the bar and in the optically faint outer spiral arms. We compare the distribution and kinematics of ionized gas with that previously determined in neutral hydrogen by Mundell & Shone; we suggest that the distribution of bright, patchy ultraviolet emission close to the H i shocks is consistent with ionization by star clusters that have formed in compressed pre‐shock gas. These clusters then travel ballistically through the gaseous shock to ionize gas downstream along the leading edge of the bar. In addition, we detect, for the first time, ionized gas within the shock itself, which is streaming to smaller radii in the same manner as the neutral gas.