Bibcode
DOI
Mediavilla, E.; Arribas, S.; Garcia-Lorenzo, B.; del Burgo, C.
Bibliographical reference
Astrophysical Journal v.488, p.682
Advertised on:
10
1997
Citations
15
Refereed citations
13
Description
We present simultaneous two-dimensional spectroscopy of the
circumnuclear region (12" x 9") of the galaxy NGC 7331, obtained with an
optical fiber system coupled to the ISIS double spectrograph of the 4.2
m William Herschel Telescope. The system allows simultaneous observation
of 125 regions of this galaxy in two spectral ranges: 4590--5400
Angstroms at high resolution (1.5 Angstroms) and 6400--9620 Angstroms at
low resolution (5 Angstroms). These spectra are mainly used to study the
stellar and gas kinematics in the innermost region of this galaxy. The
stellar velocity fields inferred from the Mg I b and Ca II absorption
lines are in good agreement. They show a solid-body rotational pattern
with the line of nodes along the position angle of the apparent major
axis of the galaxy. The relatively large local stellar velocity
dispersion suggests that we are observing the bulge rather than the disk
kinematics. The two-dimensional kinematic data agree with previous
one-dimensional studies that found no evidence for a massive black hole
in NGC 7331. The [O III] emission lines are split into three components.
One is distributed around the systemic velocity, another is
systematically blueshifted, and the last is systematically redshifted.
We propose that these arise from two distinct gaseous systems: a warped
disk of irregular rotational pattern with the kinematic axes shifted by
about 30 deg with respect to those of the stars, and a shell of gas
flowing radially. Although alternative interpretations in terms of
inflow driven by a central bar or outflow produced by a galactic wind
are possible, the latter seems preferable. In NGC 7331 the ionized gas
and stars are kinematically decoupled, the velocity dispersion of the
ionized gas being substantially lower than that of the stars. This last
result differs from what is generally found in Seyfert galaxies.
However, NGC 7331 and M31 show a large degree of similarity, and the
type of LINERs that they harbor are probably produced by the same type
of phenomenon.