Near-IR Images of the Torus and Micro-Spiral Structure in NGC 1068 using Adaptive Optics
| dc.creator | Rouan, D. | |
| dc.creator | Rigaut, F. | |
| dc.creator | Alloin, D. | |
| dc.creator | Doyon, R. | |
| dc.creator | Lai, O. | |
| dc.creator | Crampton, D. | |
| dc.creator | Gendron, E. | |
| dc.creator | Arsenault, R. | |
| dc.date | 1998-07-06 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-25T20:49:40Z | |
| dc.description | We present diffraction-limited near-IR images in J, H and K of the nucleus of NGC 1068, obtained with the Adaptive Optics system {Pueo} at CFHT. The achieved resolution (0.12") reveals several components, particularly prominent on the [J-K] image: a) an unresolved, conspicuous core (size < 9 pc); b) an elongated structure at P.A. ~102 deg, beginning to show up at radius ~ 15 pc; c) a S-shaped structure with radial extent ~ 20 pc, including a bar-like central elongation at P.A. ~ 15 deg and two short spiral arms. The K core is at the location of the putative central engine (radio source S1) : the core is likely the emission from the hot inner walls of the dust/molecular torus. The extremely red colors of the central 0.2", [J-K]=7.0, [H-K]=3.8, lead to an extinction Av > 25. The elongated structure at P.A.~ 102 deg may trace the presence of cooler dust within and around the torus. This interpretation is supported by two facts : a) the elongated structure is perpendicular to the local radio jet originating at S1; b) its direction follows exactly that of the disk of ionized gas recently found with the VLBA. The S-shaped feature suggests an extremely compact barred spiral structure, that would be the innermost of a series of nested spiral structures, as predicted by simulations. This is supported by the inner stellar distribution - deduced from the J image - which clearly follows an exponential disk with a 19 pc scale-length, precisely that expected from the rotation of a bar. | |
| dc.description | Accepted for publication in "Astron. & Astrophys." ; 7 pages, 1 Fig | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9807053 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9807053 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.dare.co.zw/handle/123456789/73487 | |
| dc.subject | Astrophysics | |
| dc.title | Near-IR Images of the Torus and Micro-Spiral Structure in NGC 1068 using Adaptive Optics | |
| dc.type | text |