Kinematics of Molecular Gas in the Nucleus of NGC1068, from H2 line emission observed with VLT

Abstract

We present results about the distribution and kinematics of the molecular environment of the AGN in NGC1068, over a 1.5'' x 3.5'' region around the central engine in NGC1068, derived from H2 line emission detected with ISAAC at VLT/ANTU on ESO/Paranal. The H2 emitting molecular gas is found to be distributed along the East-West direction and with two main peak emission (knots) located at a distance of about 70 pc from the central engine. The eastern H2 knot is more intense than the western one. The line profiles mapped across the entire 1.5'' x 3.5'' region, at a spatial resolution of 0.3'' x 0.45'', appear to be quite complex with either a blue or red wing. At first order, we find a velocity difference of 140 km/s between the two knots; if interpreted as quasi-keplerian velocity, this implies a central enclosed mass of 10^8 solar masses.