GA-NIFS: Mapping z ≃ 3.5 AGN-driven ionized outflows in the COSMOS field

Active galactic nuclei (AGNi) are a key ingredient in galaxy evolution and possibly shape galaxy growth through the generation of powerful outflows. Little is known regarding AGN-driven ionized outflows in moderate-luminosity AGNi (log(Lbol/erg s−1) < 47) beyond cosmic noon (z & 3). In this work we present the first systematic analysis of the ionized outflow properties of a sample of seven X-ray-selected AGNi (log(LX/erg s−1) > 44) from the COSMOS-Legacy field at z ' 3.5 and with log(Lbol/erg s−1) = 45.2−46.7 by using JWST NIRSpec/IFU near-IR spectroscopic observations as part of the “Galaxy Assembly with NIRSpec IFS” (GA-NIFS) program. We spectrally isolated and spatially resolved the ionized outflows by performing a multi-component kinematic decomposition of the rest-frame optical emission lines. JWST/NIRSpec IFU data also revealed a wealth of close-by companions, of both non-AGN and AGN nature, and ionized gas streams likely tracing tidal structures and large-scale ionized gas nebulae extending up to the circumgalactic medium. Ionized outflows were detected in all COS-AGNi targets, with outflow masses in the range 1.5−11× 106 M , outflow velocities in the range '570−3200 km s−1, and mass outflow rates in the range '1.4−40 M yr−1. We compared the outflow properties of AGNi presented in this work with previous results from the literature up to z ' 3, which were opportunely (re-) computed for a coherent comparison. We normalized outflow energetics (M out, Eout) to the outflow density in order to standardize the various assumptions that were made in the literature. Our choice is equal to assuming that each outflow has the same gas density. We find GA-NIFS AGNi to show outflows consistent with literature results, within the large scatter shown by the collected measurements, thus suggesting no strong evolution with redshift in terms of total mass outflow rate, energy budget, and outflow velocity for fixed bolometric luminosity. Moreover, we find no clear redshift evolution of the ratio of mass outflow rate and kinetic power over AGNi bolometric luminosity beyond z > 1. In general, our results indicate no significant evolution of the physics driving outflows beyond z ' 3.