Abstract
Ultravoilet (UV) absorption lines provide abundant spectroscopic information
enabling the probe of the physical conditions in AGN outflows, but the outflow
radii (and the energetics consequently) can only be determined indirectly. In
this paper, we present the first direct test of these determinations using
integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy. We have conducted Gemini IFU mapping of
the ionized gas nebulae surrounding two AGNs, whose outflow radii have been
constrained by UV absorption line analyses. In Mrk 509, we find a
quasi-spherical outflow with a radius of 1.2 kpc and a velocity of $\sim290$ km
s$^-1$, while IRAS F04250$-$5718 is driving a biconical outflow extending out
to 2.9 kpc, with a velocity of $\sim580$ km s$^-1$ and an opening angle of
$\sim70^\circ$. The derived mass flow rate is $\sim5$ and $>1$ M$_ødot$
yr$^-1$, respectively, and the kinetic luminosity is $\gtrsim1\times10^41$
erg s$^-1$ for both. Adopting the outflow radii and geometric parameters
measured from IFU, absorption line analyses would yield mass flow rates and
kinetic luminosities in agreement with the above results within a factor of
$\sim2$. We conclude that the spatial locations, kinematics and energetics
revealed by this IFU emission-line study are consistent with pre-existing UV
absorption line analyses, providing a long-awaited direct confirmation of the
latter as an effective approach for characterizing outflow properties.
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