SUPER VIII. Fast and furious at z ∼ 2: obscured type-2 active nuclei host faster ionised winds than type-1 systems

Abstract

We present spatially resolved VLT/SINFONI spectroscopy with adaptive optics of type-2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the SINFONI Survey for Unveiling the Physics and Effect of Radiative feedback (SUPER), which targeted X-ray bright (L _2-10keV ≥ 10 ⁴² erg s ^-1) AGN at cosmic noon (z∼ 2). Our analysis of the rest-frame optical spectra unveils ionised outflows in all seven examined targets, as traced via [O III]λ5007 line emission, moving at v ≥ 600 km s ^-1. These outflows are clearly spatially resolved in six objects and extend on 2-4 kpc scales, but they are marginally resolved in the remaining one object. Interestingly, these SUPER type-2 AGN are all heavily obscured sources (N _H ≥ 10 ²³ cm ^-2) and host faster ionised outflows than their type-1 counterparts within the same range of bolometric luminosity (L _bol∼ 10 ^44.8-46.5 erg s ^-1). SUPER has hence provided observational evidence that the dichotomy of type-1 to type-2 at z∼ 2 might not be driven simply by projection effects, but might reflect two distinct obscuring life stages of active galaxies, as predicted by evolutionary models. Within this picture, SUPER type-2 AGN might be undergoing the blow-out phase, where the large amount of obscuring material efficiently accelerates large-scale outflows via radiation pressure on dust, eventually unveiling the central active nucleus and signaling the start of the bright, unobscured type-1 AGN phase. Moreover, the velocities of the overall population of ionised outflows detected in SUPER are comparable with the escape speed of their dark matter haloes, and they are in general high enough to reach distances of 30-50 kpc from the centre. These outflows are hence likely to sweep away the gas (at least) out of the baryonic disk and/or to heat the host gas reservoir, thus reducing and possibly quenching star formation.

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