Probing the Jet-Torus Interaction in the Radio Galaxy NGC 1052 by Sulfur-bearing Molecules

The radio galaxy NGC 1052 casts absorption features of sulfur-bearing molecules, H2S, SO, SO2, and CS toward the radio continuum emission from the core and jets. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, we have measured the equivalent widths of SO absorption features in multiple transitions and determined the temperatures of 344 +/- 43 K and 26 +/- 4 K in submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, respectively. Since submillimeter and millimeter continuum represents the core and jets, the high and low temperatures of the absorbers imply a warm environment in the molecular torus and cooler downstream flows. The high temperature in the torus is consistent with the presence of 22 GHz H2O maser emission, vibrationally excited HCN and HCO+ absorption lines, and sulfur-bearing molecules in the gas phase released from dust. The origin of the sulfur-bearing gas is ascribed to the evaporation of the icy dust component through a jet-torus interaction. Shock heating is the sole plausible mechanism to maintain such a high temperature of gas and dust in the torus. The implication of the jet-torus interaction also supports the collimation of the sub-relativistic jets by the gas pressure of the torus.

Automated summary

The radio galaxy NGC 1052 shows absorption features of sulfur-bearing molecules towards the radio continuum emission from the core and jets. By measuring the equivalent widths of SO absorption features at different transitions, temperatures of 344 +/- 43 K and 26 +/- 4 K were determined in submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, respectively. The high temperature in the molecular torus and the presence of sulfur-bearing molecules indicate a warm environment and suggest the evaporation of icy dust through a jet-torus interaction.