High-sensitivity Observations of the H2O Megamasers of NGC 1068: Precise Astrometry and Detailed Kinematics

We present High Sensitivity Array observations of the H₂O megamasers of NGC 1068. We obtain absolute astrometry with 0.3 mas precision that confirms the association of the disk masers with the nuclear radio continuum source S1. The new observations reveal two new blueshifted groups of disk masers. We also detect the 22 GHz continuum on short interferometric baselines. The position-velocity diagram of the disk masers shows a curve consistent with a nonaxisymmetric distribution of maser spots. This curve is probably the result of spiral arms with a constant pitch angle ~5°. The disk kinematics are consistent with Keplerian rotation and low turbulent speeds. The inferred central mass is 17 × 10⁶ M _☉. On the basis of disk stability arguments, the mass of the molecular disk is ≈110 × 10³ M _☉. The disk masers further resolve into filamentary structures suggesting an ordered magnetic field threading the maser disk. The magnetic field strengths must be ≳2 mG to withstand turbulent motions in the partially ionized molecular gas. We note apparent asymmetries in the molecular disk that might be explained by anisotropic heating by a misaligned inner accretion disk. The new observations also detect the fainter jet masers north of the disk masers. The distribution and kinematics of the jet masers are consistent with an expanding ring of molecular gas.