THE COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF THE MULTI-PHASE GALACTIC WIND IN A STARBURST MERGER

Neutral outflows have been detected in many ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) via the Na I D lambda lambda 5890, 5896 absorption-line doublet. For the first time, we have mapped and analyzed the two-dimensional kinematics of a cool neutral outflow in a ULIRG, F10565+2448, using the integral field unit on Gemini North to observe the Na I D feature. At the same time, we have mapped the ionized outflow with the [N II] and Ha emission lines. We find a systemic rotation curve that is consistent with the rotation of the molecular disk determined from previous CO observations. The absorption lines show evidence of a nuclear outflow with a radial extent of at least 3 kpc, consistent with previous observations. The strength of the Na I D lines have a strong, spatially resolved correlation with reddening, suggesting that dust is present in the outflow. Surprisingly, the outflow velocities of the neutral gas show a strong asymmetry in the form of a major-axis gradient that is opposite in sign to disk rotation. This is inconsistent with entrained material rotating along with the galaxy or with a tilted minor-axis outflow. We hypothesize that this unusual behavior is due to an asymmetry in the distribution of the ambient gas. We also see evidence of asymmetric ionized outflow in the emission-line velocity map, which appears to be decoupled from the neutral outflow. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that ULIRG outflows differ in morphology from those in more quiescent disk galaxies.