JWST Observations of Starbursts: The Motion of Dust—PAH Kinematics of M82 and NGC 253 with JWST/MIRI Spectroscopy

Abstract

We present an analysis of dust kinematics in the local starburst galaxies M82 (NGC 3034) and NGC 253 using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features observed with JWST/MIRI spectroscopy. We are able to produce high-quality velocity maps of the 5.2, 6.2, and 11.3 μm PAH features, as well as numerous lines of molecular gas via H2 rotational transitions and ionized gas from [Ne ii] and H recombination lines. Given the field of view and inclination, we trace a rotating disk in M82 where we observe a steep rise in the velocities followed by flattening, typical of galaxy rotation curves. In NGC 253, however, the 6.2 and 11.3 μm PAH features trace the launching region of the outflow, firmly within the starburst region. We find the ionized gas also shows outflow contributions in NGC 253 while the warm molecular gas is dominated by rotation. Additionally, the molecular gas outflow velocities are lower than the ionized gas, with the 11.3 μm PAH feature consistent with the ionized gas rather than the molecular gas. We therefore suggest that PAHs are more closely associated with the ionized gas rather than the molecular at the base of the galaxy outflow, whereas larger-scale imaging shows comparable morphology between PAHs and H I. The 6.2 μm PAH feature has an even higher outflow velocity for both galaxies, possibly suggesting preferential ionization of the PAHs within the faster-moving hot phase of the base of the outflow.