A High Resolution View of Galactic Centers: Arp 220 and M31.

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2017-08
Authors
Lockhart, Kelly E.
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Astronomy
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The centers of galaxy are small in size and yet incredibly complex. They play host to supermassive black holes and nuclear star clusters (NSCs) and are subject to large gas in ows, nuclear starbursts, and active galactic nuclear (AGN) activity. They can also be the launching site for large-scale galactic out ows. However, though these systems are quite important to galactic evolution, observations are quite di cult due to their small size. Using high spatial resolution narrowband imaging with HST/WFC3 of Arp 220, a latestage galaxy merger, I discover an ionized gas bubble feature (r = 600 pc) just o the nucleus. The bubble is aligned with both the western nucleus and with the large-scale galactic out ow. Using energetics arguments, I link the bubble with a young, obscured AGN or with an intense nuclear starburst. Given its alignment along the large-scale out ow axis, I argue that the bubble presents evidence for a link between the galactic center and the large-scale out ow. I also present new observations of the NSC in M31, the closest large spiral galaxy to our own. Using the OSIRIS near-infrared integral eld spectrograph (IFS) on Keck, I map the kinematics of the old stellar population in the eccentric disk of the NSC. I compare the observations to models to derive a precession speed of the disk of 0 5 km s􀀀1 pc􀀀1, and hence con rm that winds from the old stellar population may be the source of gas needed to form the young stellar population in the NSC. Studies of galactic centers are dependent on high spatial resolution observations. In particular, IFSs are ideal instruments for these studies as they provide two-dimensional spectroscopy of the eld of view, enabling 2D kinematic studies. I report on work to v characterize and improve the data reduction pipeline of the OSIRIS IFS, and discuss implications for future generations of IFS instrumentation.
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