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The 36 GHz Class I Methanol Maser in NGC 4945: A Tracer of Active Galactic Nucleus-driven Outflow–Interstellar Medium Interaction

  • Authors: Xi Chen, Tian Yang, Shimin Song, Tiege McCarthy, Xiaoyun Xu, Simon Ellingsen, Shari Breen

Xi Chen et al 2026 The Astrophysical Journal Letters 1002 .

  • Provider: AAS Journals

Caption: Figure 6.

Spatial correlation of other shock tracers with the molecular outflow and methanol masers in NGC 4945. Integrated intensity (moment 0) maps of two shock-tracing molecular lines observed with ALMA in the 3 mm band: HNCO (40,4−30,3) at 87.925 GH (panel (a)) and SiO(J = 2−1) at 86.847 GHz (panel (b)). The emission of these molecules is enhanced in regions affected by shocks. For context, the high-velocity molecular outflow is overlaid as red and blue contours (tracing the CO (J = 3−2) line wings, as defined in Figure 2). The distribution of the 36.2 GHz Class I methanol maser spots is also shown as colored circles (following the convention of Figure 2). Panels (c) and (d): Three-color composite images combining the emission from SiO (blue), HNCO (green), and CO (2–1; red) for the velocity ranges 420–560 km s−1 (panel (c)) and 600–710 km s−1 (panel (d)). Three distinct filamentary structures (labeled Streamers A, B, and C) extending from the nuclear region are indicated with arrows. A white ellipse outlines the circumnuclear molecular ring. The HNCO emission significantly traces the shocked interfaces between the three infalling streamers and the molecular ring.

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