Low-power jet-ISM interaction in NGC 7319 revealed by JWST/MIRI MRS

Understand

We present JWST/MIRI MRS spectroscopy of NGC7319, the largest galaxy in the Stephan's Quintet, observed as part of the Early Release Observations (ERO).

• NGC7319 hosts a type 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) and a low-power radio jet (L_1.4GHz=3.3x10^22 W Hz^-1) with two asymmetric radio hotspots at 430 pc (N2) and 1.5 kpc (S2) projected distances from the unresolved radio core.
• The MRS data suggest that the molecular material in the disk of the galaxy decelerates the jet and causes this length asymmetry.
• We find enhanced emission from warm and hot H_2 (T_w=330+-40 K, T_h=900+-60 K) and ionized gas at the intersection between the jet axis and dust lanes in the disk.