12,257 research outputs found
Emission lines in early-type galaxies: active nuclei or stars?
We selected 27244 nearby, red, giant early-type galaxies (RGEs) from the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). In a large fraction (53%) of their spectra the
[O III] emission line is detected, with an equivalent width (EW) distribution
strongly clustered around ~0.75 A. The vast majority of those RGEs for which it
is possible to derive emission line ratios (amounting to about half of the
sample) show values characteristic of LINERs. The close connection between
emission lines and stellar continuum points to stellar processes as the most
likely source of the bulk of the ionizing photons in RGEs, rather than active
nuclei. In particular, the observed EW and optical line ratios are consistent
with the predictions of models in which the photoionization comes from to hot
evolved stars. Shocks driven by supernovae or stellar ejecta might also
contribute to the ionization budget. A minority, ~4%, of the galaxies show
emission lines with an equivalent that is width a factor of ~2 greater than the
sample median. Only among them are Seyfert-like spectra found. Furthermore, 40%
of this subgroup have a radio counterpart, compared to ~6% of the rest of the
sample. These characteristics argue in favor of an AGN origin for their
emission lines. Emission lines diagnostic diagrams do not reveal a distinction
between the AGN subset and the other members of the sample, and consequently
they are not a useful tool for establishing the dominant source of the ionizing
photons, which is better predicted by the EW of the emission lines.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
The Role of Starbursts in the Formation of Galaxies & Active Galactic Nuclei
Starbursts are episodes of intense star-formation in the central regions of
galaxies, and are the sites of roughly 25% of the high-mass star-formation in
the local universe. In this contribution I review the role starbursts play in
the formation and evolution of galaxies, the intergalactic medium, and active
galactic nuclei. Four major conclusions are drawn. 1) Starburst galaxies are
good analogues (in fact, the only plausible local analogues) to the known
population of star-forming galaxies at high-redshift. 2) Integrated over cosmic
time, supernova-driven galactic-winds (`superwinds') play an essential role in
the evolution of galaxies and the inter-galactic medium. 3) Circumnuclear
starbursts are an energetically-significant component of the Seyfert
phenomenon. 4) The evolution of the population of the host galaxies of
radio-quiet quasars is significantly different than that of powerful radio
galaxies, and is at least qualitatively consistent with the standard picture of
the hierarchical assembly of massive galaxies at relatively late times.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, Royal Society discussion meeting `The formation
of galaxies
Columbia/Einstein observations of extragalactic X-ray sources
Results are presented of the analysis of data from observations of extragalactic objects with the imaging proportional counter on board the Einstein Observatory. Surveys of normal galaxies, radio galaxies, active galaxies, quasars and BL Lacs, and clusters of galaxies were studied in order to improve the understanding of the origin of the Milky Way Galaxy
Radio Observations of AGN in Low Surface Brightness Galaxies
We present preliminary results of a study of the low frequency radio
continuum emission from the nuclei of Giant Low Surface Brightness (LSB)
galaxies. We have mapped the emission and searched for extended features such
as radio lobes/jets associated with AGN activity. LSB galaxies are poor in star
formation and generally less evolved compared to nearby bright spirals. This
paper presents low frequency observations of 3 galaxies; PGC 045080 at 1.4 GHz,
610 MHz, 325MHz, UGC 1922 at 610 MHz and UGC 6614 at 610 MHz. The observations
were done with the GMRT. Radio cores as well as extended structures were
detected and mapped in all three galaxies; the extended emission may be
assocated with jets/lobes associated with AGN activity. Our results indicate
that although these galaxies are optically dim, their nuclei can host AGN that
are bright in the radio domain.Comment: To appear in proceedings IAU Symp 244, 'Dark Galaxies and Lost
Baryons', June 2007, 2 pages including 1 figur
Periodic Radio Variability in NRAO 530: Phase Dispersion Minimization Analysis
In this paper, a periodicity analysis of the radio light curves of the blazar
NRAO 530 at 14.5, 8.0, and 4.8 GHz is presented employing an improved Phase
Dispersion Minimization (PDM) technique. The result, which shows two persistent
periodic components of and years at all three frequencies,
is consistent with the results obtained with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram and
weighted wavelet Z-transform algorithms. The reliability of the derived
periodicities is confirmed by the Monte Carlo numerical simulations which show
a high statistical confidence. (Quasi-)Periodic fluctuations of the radio
luminosity of NRAO 530 might be associated with the oscillations of the
accretion disk triggered by hydrodynamic instabilities of the accreted flow.
\keywords{methods: statistical -- galaxies: active -- galaxies: quasar:
individual: NRAO 530}Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted by RA
The Pinhole/Occulter as a tool for X-ray astronomy
The two X-ray transform telescopes on the Pinhole/Occulter Facility (P/OF) will provide sub-arcsecond angular resolution, high sensitivity imaging in hard X-rays for the first time, as well as improved capabilities for timing studies and spectroscopy. Although the design was driven by solar observing requirements, the result is an instrument of major importance for astronomical as well as solar observations. Fundamental astrophysical measurements could be made on supernova remnants, clusters of galaxies, active galaxy cores, accreting binary systems, and active coronae of nearby stars. Ways in which astronomical observations will benefit solar research are discussed
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