While observations of molecular gas at cosmic noon and beyond have focused on the gas within galaxies (i.e. the interstellar medium, ISM), it is also crucial to study the molecular gas reservoirs surrounding each galaxy (i.e. in the circumgalactic medium, CGM). Recent observations of galaxies and quasars hosts at high redshift (z > 2) have revealed evidence for cold gaseous haloes of scale rCGM ∼ 10 kpc, with one discovery of a molecular halo with rCGM ∼ 200 kpc, and a molecular gas mass one order of magnitude larger than the ISM of the central galaxy. As a follow up, we present deep ACA and ALMA observations of CO(3–2) from this source and two other quasar host galaxies at z ∼ 2.2. While we find evidence for CO emission on scales of r ∼ 10 kpc, we do not find evidence for molecular gas on scales larger than r > 20 kpc. Therefore, our deep data do not confirm the existence of massive molecular haloes on scales of ∼100 kpc for these X-ray selected quasars. As an interesting byproduct of our deep observations, we obtain the tentative detection of a negative continuum signal on scales larger than r > 200 kpc, which might be tracing the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect associated with the halo heated by the active galactic nucleus (AGN). If confirmed with deeper data, this could be direct evidence of the preventive AGN feedback process expected by cosmological simulations.

An investigation of the circumgalactic medium around z ∼ 2.2 AGN with ACA and ALMA

Maiolino R.;Carniani S.;
2023

Abstract

While observations of molecular gas at cosmic noon and beyond have focused on the gas within galaxies (i.e. the interstellar medium, ISM), it is also crucial to study the molecular gas reservoirs surrounding each galaxy (i.e. in the circumgalactic medium, CGM). Recent observations of galaxies and quasars hosts at high redshift (z > 2) have revealed evidence for cold gaseous haloes of scale rCGM ∼ 10 kpc, with one discovery of a molecular halo with rCGM ∼ 200 kpc, and a molecular gas mass one order of magnitude larger than the ISM of the central galaxy. As a follow up, we present deep ACA and ALMA observations of CO(3–2) from this source and two other quasar host galaxies at z ∼ 2.2. While we find evidence for CO emission on scales of r ∼ 10 kpc, we do not find evidence for molecular gas on scales larger than r > 20 kpc. Therefore, our deep data do not confirm the existence of massive molecular haloes on scales of ∼100 kpc for these X-ray selected quasars. As an interesting byproduct of our deep observations, we obtain the tentative detection of a negative continuum signal on scales larger than r > 200 kpc, which might be tracing the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect associated with the halo heated by the active galactic nucleus (AGN). If confirmed with deeper data, this could be direct evidence of the preventive AGN feedback process expected by cosmological simulations.
2023
Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia e Astrofisica
galaxies: evolution; galaxies: haloes; galaxies: high-redshift
   Winds in galaxies
   WINGS
   European Commission
   Horizon Europe Framework Programme
   101040227

   Star formation quenching and feedback in galaxies throughout the cosmic epochs
   QUENCH
   European Commission
   Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
   695671
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/139163
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