Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775

Spiral galaxies are thin and susceptible to being disrupted vertically. The largest star clusters, and nuclear starbursts, generate enough energy from winds and supernovae to send disk material to the halo. Observations of edge-on galaxies allow for the clearest view of vertical disruptions. We pres...

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Main Authors: William T. Reach, Dario Fadda, Richard J. Rand, Gordon J. Stacey
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Universe
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/11/4/127
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author William T. Reach
Dario Fadda
Richard J. Rand
Gordon J. Stacey
author_facet William T. Reach
Dario Fadda
Richard J. Rand
Gordon J. Stacey
author_sort William T. Reach
collection DOAJ
description Spiral galaxies are thin and susceptible to being disrupted vertically. The largest star clusters, and nuclear starbursts, generate enough energy from winds and supernovae to send disk material to the halo. Observations of edge-on galaxies allow for the clearest view of vertical disruptions. We present new observations of the nearby, edge-on galaxy NGC 5775 with SOFIA in [C II] <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>157.7</mn><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>m and archival images from Hubble in H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> to search for extraplanar gas. The extraplanar [C II] extends 2 kpc from the midplane over much of the star-forming disk. The extraplanar [C II] at 2 kpc from the midplane approximately follows the rotation of the disk, with a lag of approximately 40 km <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>; this lag is similar to what has been previously reported in H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Significant vertical extensions (to 3 kpc) are seen on the northeast side of the galaxy, potentially due to super star clusters in the NGC 5775 disk combined with gravitational interaction with the companion galaxy NGC 5774. The H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> narrow-band image reveals a narrow plume that extends 7 kpc from the nucleus and is almost exactly perpendicular to the disk. The plume shape is similar to that seen from the comparable galaxy NGC 3628 and may arise from the nuclear starburst. Alternatively, the H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> plume could be a relic of past activity.
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spelling doaj-art-d1319cd6f6c640dda519beec8816f16e2025-08-20T02:18:05ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972025-04-0111412710.3390/universe11040127Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775William T. Reach0Dario Fadda1Richard J. Rand2Gordon J. Stacey3Space Science Institute, 4765 Walnut Street, Suite 205, Boulder, CO 80301, USASpace Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, 800 Yale Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USAAstronomy Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USASpiral galaxies are thin and susceptible to being disrupted vertically. The largest star clusters, and nuclear starbursts, generate enough energy from winds and supernovae to send disk material to the halo. Observations of edge-on galaxies allow for the clearest view of vertical disruptions. We present new observations of the nearby, edge-on galaxy NGC 5775 with SOFIA in [C II] <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>157.7</mn><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>m and archival images from Hubble in H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> to search for extraplanar gas. The extraplanar [C II] extends 2 kpc from the midplane over much of the star-forming disk. The extraplanar [C II] at 2 kpc from the midplane approximately follows the rotation of the disk, with a lag of approximately 40 km <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>; this lag is similar to what has been previously reported in H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Significant vertical extensions (to 3 kpc) are seen on the northeast side of the galaxy, potentially due to super star clusters in the NGC 5775 disk combined with gravitational interaction with the companion galaxy NGC 5774. The H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> narrow-band image reveals a narrow plume that extends 7 kpc from the nucleus and is almost exactly perpendicular to the disk. The plume shape is similar to that seen from the comparable galaxy NGC 3628 and may arise from the nuclear starburst. Alternatively, the H<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">α</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> plume could be a relic of past activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/11/4/127galaxiesNGC 5775far-infrared spectroscopy
spellingShingle William T. Reach
Dario Fadda
Richard J. Rand
Gordon J. Stacey
Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
Universe
galaxies
NGC 5775
far-infrared spectroscopy
title Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
title_full Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
title_fullStr Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
title_full_unstemmed Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
title_short Extraplanar [C II] and H<i>α</i> in the Edge-On Galaxy NGC 5775
title_sort extraplanar c ii and h i α i in the edge on galaxy ngc 5775
topic galaxies
NGC 5775
far-infrared spectroscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/11/4/127
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AT dariofadda extraplanarciiandhiaiintheedgeongalaxyngc5775
AT richardjrand extraplanarciiandhiaiintheedgeongalaxyngc5775
AT gordonjstacey extraplanarciiandhiaiintheedgeongalaxyngc5775