The MOSDEF survey: a census of AGN-driven ionized outflows at $z = 1.4-3.8$.
2019
Using data from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey, we present
a census of AGN-driven ionized outflows in a sample of 159 AGNs at $1.4 \le z
\le 3.8$. The sample spans AGN bolometric luminosities of $10^{44-47}
\mathrm{~erg~s}^{-1}$ and includes both quiescent and star-forming galaxies
extending across three orders of magnitude in stellar mass. We identify and
characterize outflows from the \hbeta, [OIII], \halpha ~and [NII] emission line
spectra. We detect outflows in $17\%$ of the AGNs, seven times more often than
in a mass-matched sample of inactive galaxies in MOSDEF. The outflows are fast
and galaxy-wide, with velocities of $\sim 400-3500 ~\mathrm{km~s}^{-1}$ and
spatial extents of $0.3-11.0$ kpc. The incidence of outflows among AGNs is
independent of the stellar mass of the host galaxy, with outflows detected in
both star-forming and quiescent galaxies. This suggests that outflows exist
across different phases in galaxy evolution. We investigate relations between
outflow kinematic, spatial, and energetic properties and both AGN and host
galaxy properties. Our results show that AGN-driven outflows are widespread in
galaxies along the star-forming main sequence. The mass-loading factors of the
outflows are typically $0.1-1$ and increase with AGN luminosity, capable of
exceeding unity at $L_\mathrm{AGN} \gtrsim 10^{46.3} \mathrm{~erg~s}^{-1}$. In
these more luminous sources the ionized outflow alone is likely sufficient to
regulate star formation, and when combined with outflowing neutral and
molecular gas may be able to quench star formation in their host galaxies.
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